Crows on ice

When I worked in Minneapolis, on occasion I'd see huge flocks of crows heading toward or coming from a roost, so I knew from personal experience that they assemble in very large flocks. I've also learned that there are some who would have us forego the use of the term "murder" for a flock of crows. Others have capitalized on the term to promote an episode of the PBS series Nature called A Murder of Crows. All of which is a lead up to noting that yesterday, as we drove past the frozen, ice covered pools of the Sunrise River just North of Highway 36 in Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, the Better Half and I were mildly startled to notice a flock of 50, or 75, or maybe even 100 crows standing in the frozen marsh, on the ice, and flying about. We've seen several flocks of crows in the neighborhood over the years but never have noticed a roost as large as those in Minneapolis, nor a murder as large as the one we drove past yesterday. The was no observable reason for them all to have congregated where they did. Another sign that we live in strange times?

part of a murder or part of a flock? what say you?

Photo by J. Harrington

Meanwhile, I continue to struggle with distinguishing crows from ravens. I've read the guidebook descriptions but, with the exception of the raven's "beard," continue to be challenged to remember and apply the differences that would lead to a certain identification. It would be nice if that becomes the most significant problem I face all year.

Two Old Crows

By Vachel Lindsay

Two old crows sat on a fence rail. 

Two old crows sat on a fence rail, 

Thinking of effect and cause, 

Of weeds and flowers, 

And nature's laws. 

One of them muttered, one of them stuttered, 

One of them stuttered, one of them muttered. 

Each of them thought far more than he uttered. 

One crow asked the other crow a riddle. 

One crow asked the other crow a riddle: 

The muttering crow 

Asked the stuttering crow, 

“Why does a bee have a sword to his fiddle? 

Why does a bee have a sword to his fiddle?” 

“Bee-cause,” said the other crow, 

“Bee-cause, 

B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B-cause.” 

Just then a bee flew close to their rail:— 

“Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ZZZZZZZZ.” 

And those two black crows 

Turned pale, 

And away those crows did sail. 

Why? 

B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B-cause. 

B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B-cause. 

“Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzz             zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ZZZZZZZZ.”

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