I've already read two books on crows and ravens, but the other day I saw an article in the newspaper about them, and laughed out loud. Crows and ravens know how to have fun. They had recorded a Russian crow using a plastic disc to snowboard down hill repeatedly, and crows in Alaska learned to imitate the sound of explosions and scare the stuffing out of the human population. They prefer McDonalds french fries over the other brands and can read the logo and select them. They mate and take care of their extended family and even mourn the death of one of them. They use tools and make tools and wait for the walk signal to cross the street in Japan. They are fun to watch and ravens up at our cabin area whistle and sing and do a clock, clock sound that makes me turn around and look every time. But they are up in the trees having fun.
I can see why they have iconic status in certain aboriginal cultures, and how they represent tricksters and shamans. There is a lot to admire in nature, and the intelligence and ingenuity of crows and ravens is awe inspiring to me personally. So next Halloween, think about the big black birds, and have a little respect.
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