Ambivalent About Crows

1. My heart a pendulum — crow love to crow hate — and back again — these large, dark Einsteins — bulling everyone from Carolina Chickadees to Red-Bellied Woodpeckers — despots of my yard — they guard and hoard the suet block, like a hockey goalie fronting the net.

2. Darwin said, “I get it, aggression is good — fight for survival and all that — pass on those traits” although it took Watson and Crick to figure out the trick — with a side of Mendel’s peas — back to the main path — crows.

3. The corners of my mouth turn upwards in admiration — then arc downwards — biological referee raising the head crow’s left wing in victory — eleven species now defeated in our yard.

4. Another meaningful friendship lost? — crows have great memories and I’ve shooed them repeatedly — my picture tacked onto the murder’s “unwanted” bulletin board — beware of the mean dude on Highland Avenue — yes, social transmission of knowledge — it’s a fact — they remember faces, and their parents — solve a puzzle, no problem — even tool use — much to respect.

5. I can do a great caw, and if unseen, lure them close for a corvid — “who’s the new bird” — but at first sight — I’m marked as avian fraud not friend.

6. Can amends be made — more peanuts on the porch?

Gary D. Grossman
Medusa’s Kitchen 1–25–23