A Murder of Crows

I always loved that saying ... a Murder of Crows. Something about it just sounds so heinous, don't you think?

While out with Andria recently on a photo shoot (soon to be blogged about) I spied the Crows beginning to congregate in the far front corner of the cemetery we were in. Yes, we were in a cemetery for Andria's Self Portrait shoot. Anyway, as I looked up into the sky, more and more Crows kept coming in from all directions. An incredible sight to behold if you love birds like I do! Some people might be afraid of them as they bring back memories of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds', but I remember watching the movie as a child and laughing at the absurdity of a flock of birds attacking people. And normally I was afraid of everything!

Andria wanted to go out in back of an old High School, that has in recent years been closed, to take a few more pictures. It was there I realized where all the Crows would be spending the night . . . on top of the building. Every so often something would spook them and they would fly up into the sky, caw-caw-cawing all the while, until they finally settled back down for a few minutes. Only to be startled again by something else. Most likely more Crows flying in to find a place to land. Jockeying for position.

In a quick moment as I looked up, a large amount of Crows all took off at once. If I didn't know better I would almost think they were Bats!

Andria took a photo at the same time as I did and here it is. Incredible, isn't it? Be forwarned, some of her stuff can be a little freaky!

I have to say, unlike my parents, who know the Crows habits inside and out, I am not a big Crow fan and never have been because I think they can be a bully in the bird world.

Several years ago I still remember waking up at 6 am to the sound of birds screaming in the backyard. I leaped out of bed to see what was going on, only to realize the Crows were stealing the Catbirds babies right out of their nest! Not only were the Catbirds upset but all the other birds were in a fuss too. We ran out to try to defend the nest but it was too late. They were all gone.

That day the mother and father Catbirds sat on the fence and cried all day long. How on earth could I ever like a bird that caused such needless pain? At the same time, I know it is part of the bird world. Doesn't mean I have to like it though.

By the way 'Murder' is a poet term. In all actuality Crows fly in flocks.