Following are three stories “for the birds” and some “I did not know that!” tips.
Our friend, Syd, prized his trucks and rode in them as proudly as a cowboy on his prize steed.
Forty years ago, Syd began tossing food out to the crows because their “presents”
kept the insect population down in his garden. “Birds eating bugs,” said Syd, “is a safer method for controlling insects than exposing my pets and children to toxic sprays!”
Crows fly 40 miles a day in search of food and Syd’s yard was a favorite treat of theirs! Over the years, the black bird group’s population grew as they were socializing and cawing on his telephone wires. Crows are one of the most intelligent birds and can recognize a human by its face. And they sure
knew who Syd was! Each morning, he had a devoted noisy feathery crew waiting for him.
The busiest bird waiting area (the wire) ran directly above Syd’s vehicles’ parking spot. One day, one of the birds pooped on his new truck. Syd marched out, looked up at the birds and announced, “I will feed you, BUT you have to promise not to mark my truck!” They both kept their promise. Not one mark was left by the trapeze swinging birds above a succession of shiny
trucks.
When Syd was 78-years-old, he was in and out of the hospital for a few days. His family fed the birds. The crows held their morning vigils and kept their promise of keeping his truck clean.
The morning that Syd died, when his daughter returned to his house, she saw that the birds had acknowledged his passing with a huge white plop on his black truck. They knew! They never returned to his home again.
A
second crow story is about the English Duke of Westminster, who was building a condo across from Christine’s condo in West Vancouver, Canada. “Shortly after the Duke died,” said Christine, “75 crows descended, in black clouds, from all directions onto the arm of the construction’s crane. They held a vigil for 30 minutes before flying off. Then, adding to the mystery, not one crow has been seen atop the crane since!”
A third crow story happened to Lewis at a race
track, while he was marking race cards with a pen. A crow flew in the room, marched over to his table, snatched up the pen and flew out. Lewis ran after the bird and pen, but the crow flew up onto the roof, caw-laughing down at him. (Crows are intelligent, curious and love sparkly things, just like women are with jewelry!)
The apologetic race track staff gave Lewis another pen. He had his head down, studying his race card again, and guess who silently
flew back in?!
The crow grabbed the second pen and jumped off the table with Lewis and the staff in hot purr-suit. The crow remained one step ahead of them and took off - with the pen - giving him something to crow about!
The crow was obviously preparing his emergency plan and earthquake proofing its nest with pen reinforcements! And, yes, crows and their “cronies” have knees called
elbows!