I was sitting today (a cloudy day) watching a group of crows and one crow in particular. It just struck me, what a beautiful bird.
I know that crows cause a lot of trouble, especially in farming and gardening. I think this is because of their high intelligence.
Sadly, the American crow is particularly susceptible to the West Nile virus.
I think that crows are so graceful-looking, and the sleek black feathers are really lovely, especially when they catch a reflection, but even if they don’t they sweep back so majestically.
We have lots of crows where I live, but I want to put in a plug for the vulture, AKA the buzzard. I think they’re a sadly neglected bird: no one I know of has done a carving of one, they aren’t anybody’s state bird, and they are generally ignored by one and all.
Of course, their dietary habits are repulsive, but they do help keep the landscape picked up in my neck of the woods. So let’s hear it for the buzzard!
I thought they came in groups of two – like the Twa Corbies.
I’m with Walden and Steve both – I think the crows and buzzards will inherit the earth after we all blow each other up. I remember the first time seeing a turkey buzzard really close up. I actually felt a little vulnerable in my 82 Diesel Rabbit. The buzzards were picking at a possum in the road, and I stopped. They pretty much ignored my little 1900-lb car, then I crept closer and their damn wings were wider than my poor little car. One hopped up on the hood, and, man was it ugly. But what beautiful birds when they soar, with their two-tone wings.
There’s an Andean condor at the National Zoo that every so often spreads its wings. THAT’s impressive; they must be 10 feet across.
OK, if we’re moving on to condor/vulture stories. I was out in California in the 70s (I think I was 12, so that would have made it the summer of 1979 - but don’t quote me on the year).
I was sitting out by my Aunt’s pool in Thousand Oaks, and there is quite a lot of wildlife in the area because of the large canyon behind her house. I’m sunbathing, laying on my stomach, and this shadow of an airplane goes by on the ground only there is no sound. I flip over, and I see the largest bird I’ve ever seen in my life. I run inside and tell my aunt I’ve seen a California condor - both she and my then uncle laugh at me and say there aren’t enough of them left in the wild and it must have been something else.
Later that week, there was a news story discussing the new California Condor Recovery Program and how there was (and this is what I don’t remember) either a single condor or a pair in the area right behind my aunt’s house. There is nothing more gratifying to a near teenager then being proven right.
I like the way ravens mumble to themselves when they are flying alone. That, and the occasional barrel rolls. Any bird that does that obviously has something going on upstairs.
A Google search for “Raven barrel roll” found this description:
Chalk one up for the raven
When I was walking Chico after work tonight I saw an amazing aerial show and I have to give kudos to the raven for some spectacular maneuvers. The raven had what must have been a supreme bit-o-nasty in its beak - I could see it dangling but couldn’t identify it - and four eagles were trying to take it away from him. The eagles acted together, like a pack, but the raven simply out flew them. It was embarrassing, really - an eagle would be inches away, talons out-stretched, and I would be positive the raven was as good as dead, and that raven would pull some freakish barrel roll move and escape - again and again. It all took place right over my head like some 3D movie effect, complete with the whooshing of wings as eagles pulled out of dives just before the ground and swung around for another attack. What surprised me was the quiet - no squawks, no eagle cries, not a sound except wings as the birds went about the deadly business of survival.
And yes, the raven won the dogfight, landing in a sheltered spot long enough to gulp down the morsel and take off . . . .
That’s cool, Jerry. What is even cooler is that I’ve seen them do those great moves when just flying along with their buddy/mate. Cruising along over the desert, not a predator or piratical eagle in sight, and whoosh, barrel roll! Pretty soon, whoosh, loop! Right back into formation.
They seem to have a good time. I like that about them.
Chickadees seem to have a good time, too, but the obvious intelligence of ravens makes their goofiness all the more endearing.
