Hi, Folks, I’m sure that you, as do I, want to know good election news, and I don’t have that for you. But, if you can relax and just smile for a few minutes, I hope you’ll enjoy today’s story.
On a beautiful crisp, clear day following yesterday’s rain, I sit upstairs in my bedroom, wrapped in a cozy comforter, and look out at the neighbor’s tree, reminded of the crows who once built a nest there.
In fact, I wrote some stories about them. “Allen and Kiki, where are you? Would you like to hear some stories about birdies?”
No response. They are perhaps still asleep. However, as I start to descend the stairs, two furry kitties appear, racing down in front of me, pausing from time to time to look back and make sure I am coming. Ah, yes, pootie breakfast is being requested.
Once the furries have nommed their fill, and I have fixed a toasted English muffin with jam, and some fragrant orange spice tea for myself, I head into the living room for story time.
“Did I hear you say you have a story about birds?” Allen must have heard me in his sleep. “I like birds. I like to watch them out the big window, and think about chasing them. That would be fun.”
“Um, well, I’m sorry to say there will not be any chance to chase any birds, but you might like the story anyway.”
Both cats have settled down beside me, sending their precious purrs against me. I love it. “There are two little stories,” I tell them. Here’s the first one.
Black Birdies
In the yard
behind mine
crows have a nest
They are very noisy
with their caws
soaring around
waking the neighborhood
in early mornings
Young crows
not yet able to fly
sit on branches
wingercizing
crying out for parents
to bring food
which they do
faithfully
Soon the crowlets
might learn to be aggressive
to terrorize
and steal things
from other birds
but for now
they are still babies
They touch my heart
What is “wingercizing?” Kiki wondered.
“Before baby birds try to fly, they first learn how to flex their wings. They will stand on a branch and move their wings back and forth, kind of like humans who exercise their arms and legs. Sometimes they hop up and down, getting ready to jump off and fly.”
Allen spoke up. “What do their parents bring them to eat?”
“I think the parents bring bugs, maybe worms, or bites of fruit or other food they might find.”
“Don’t they drink milk, like we did when we were babies?”
“No, Allen, birds are not mammals. Crows are birds known as corvids. Ravens, who look a lot like big crows, are corvids, too. Crows start to eat things like little pieces of fruit even when they are very small.”
“Corvids, like that sickness humans have been getting?”
“No, the sickness is called COVID, without an R in it.
“Would crows eat cat treats?”
“I’m not sure, but I know they will eat peanuts and dog kibble, so I’ll bet they would like cat treats if they could find them.”
“Well, I hope no crow comes in this house and gets our treats.”
“It’s not likely, Kiki. Here are two crows. One seems to be eating cheerios and the other is eating an orange peel.”
“Now, are you cats ready to hear the other crow story?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Learning to Fly
Spring in my back yard
Little crowlets on a branch
nervously hop sideways
wingercising
getting ready for that first flight
Shiny black crow parents
on the branch above
caw encouragement
“You can fly
Just follow what we do.”
Crow mom shows how
soars across the yard
flapping wings when needed
makes a U-turn
returns to her babies
Tiny caws from the youngster
“It is so far down there
to the ground
What if I fail?
What if I fall?”
Small wings flutter
Little crow hops around
on the branch
finally takes a deep breath
and jumps
In a couple of days
the entire family
have moved to the front yard
annoying the squirrel
whose tree home they are invading
“Look at me!”
A small black bird
spreads his wings
aviates from a leafy bough
to the roof of the garage
They call to one another
giddy with excitement
making quite a racket
swooping around
gliding then flapping wings
I am privileged
to watch this show
and think about how
the new learn from the old
and life goes on
“Ooh, wow!” Kiki says. “So, they learned to fly right here in this yard? That’s awesome. I wish they would do it again. I sure would like to watch that. Maybe they would let us go out there and play with them.”
I laugh. “Somehow, kitties, I think that the sight of a cat sneaking up on them might make the crow parents very nervous, and they might dive-bomb the cat.”
“I know what that means,” Allen chimes in. Once, when I was outside, a blue jay dive-bombed me and stole some of my fur. I ran back in the house as fast as I could to get away from it.”
“So, Mom, do you like it when crows come around?”
“I like most critters who come around. And crows can be helpful because they eat bugs and sometimes rodents. Some people don’t like them because the crows like to eat the ripe fruit on the trees before the humans can get to it. Farmers sometimes make fake scary people called scarecrows, to chase away the crows from their crops. It looks like the crows in this picture weren’t too frightened by the scarecrow.”
They are also very smart birds. They can figure out puzzles and solve problems.”
“How about cats? Can’t they do things like that, too?”
“Well, cats do sometimes eat bugs, and I suppose they solve problems too. Besides, I like having kitties around because they are soft and cuddly, and because they purr.”
Allen and Kiki, reassured once more that they are loved, slip down and pad off to find mischief somewhere. Soon I hear some crunching coming from the kitchen.
Just one more image, complements of Edward Lear ~
And so, it’s time for me to get some things done, too. Have a good week. I wish you many purrs.
Thanks, Mina. I’ve been so swamped, but I finally stopped by to read your piece.