Some Prose and Crows

We are still trying to learn more about how the crow-world operates. It would be great if we could crack the language code. Is there a Rosetta Stone that includes the crows?

We’ve heard the crows voice some different stuff this week. One morning, Pat took some food out. None of the crows had arrived yet, so she gave the food call, “Caw caw caw caw.” She immediately got an answer in kind, and, in a minute or so, the crow with the mangled foot landed on the driveway. He saw that he was alone, so he gave the 4-caw summons. Then, he must have been angry about the tardiness because in a louder voice, he gave out a trill and then 3 caws and then 2 caws and then 2 caws again. The other four birds showed up in less than a minute.

Punctuality must be important in the crow world. They seem to get upset if everyone doesn’t show up on time. On another morning, Pat went outside with the food, and again, no crows had arrived. She gave the 4-Caw summons and got 4 caws in reply. In less than a minute, the crow with the mangled foot landed on the driveway. Seeing that he was alone, he gave the four-caw call and got a reply from the distance. After a minute or so no one had showed up, so the mangled foot guy starts yelling at the top of his lungs. “Caw caw caw caw,” and then three crows came followed by two crows. Then another two caws. It was so loud that I could hear it in the house. Having been chewed out in good fashion, the other four crows showed up in less than a minute.

There is one crow that loves to talk with Pat. We don’t know if it is the Boss Crow or one of the other guys. He’ll sit in the neighbor’s liquid amber tree just hanging out. When he sees Pat come out of the house, he gets terribly excited. He will start prancing back and forth on the limb he is standing on and bobbing his head and wiggling his butt and making little trill sounds. There is no question that he is overjoyed to see her. When Pat starts making conversation, the crow listens patiently. Then, when it is his turn, he will say his piece, and then give her a chance to speak again. The crow seems to enjoy it so much, Pat thinks he would continue the conversation all day if she consented to do so.

Dave Thomas

4/11/2024