My husband and I have a budding new friendship ~ with Betsy and Bob.

Betsy and Bob are crows.

We began with a bird feeder on our deck that attracted Northern Flickers, Robins, Chickadees and various other songbirds.  It was glorious to open the back door to our apartment and hear the cacophony of the voices of their community.

It was the Songbird Station in the neighbourhood.

Short lived, however.  Our Landlord quickly informed us that the seed we were putting out was magically transferring to the roof of our building and creating – apparently – a garden of grass that is detrimental to the structure. 

Pox on that, they said!

Result – we were bereft of song.

Then the crows starting hanging out.  As you can imagine, their song was not quite so melodious.

We did our best to shoo them away …

We soon realized that:

1. Crows are smart
2. Crows remember your face
3. Crows pass that knowledge on to other crows
4. Crows are grumpy and protective when they have chicks
5. Crows dive bomb your head when they do not like or trust you.

This new knowledge gave us some food for thought.  (Living in a neighbourhood with many, many crows.)

Nature and all of Its creatures come in a variant of sizes and comportments ~ and they are all beautiful.  None are better than another.

We – homo sapiens – are also part of that food chain.  Granted, we are at the top, but our role and importance is no more or less than the ant or the crow or the whale.

We are all needed to make the world turn and for all of us to survive.

~~~

Back to Betsy and Bob.

Betsy was first to take up residence.  She started hanging out with us on the rail the year after the birdsong ended on our deck ~ warily at first, but more and more comfortable as time went on.

She didn’t sing but she cawed and spoke to us and looked us in the eye when she did.

She won our hearts.  We started saying hello and feeding her some cat kibble.

And so it started.

Bob came next.  Then, a fledgling.

The year went by and winter was upon us.

Spring has now sprung.

Betsy and Bob are back.  And they are fascinating.  And they have now become part of our menagerie that includes 3 cats and a plethora of hummingbirds.  All integral participants that make our home, Home.

I am very close to having Betsy take some food from my fingers.  What a thrill that would be if it happens!

Bonus is that they are rather proprietary – they keep other crows, pigeons and seagulls at bay while not seeming to be a detriment to the smaller songbirds that happen by once in a while …

~~~

We often forget that we are a part of the big scheme of the Planet.

I don’t really understand or trust people that do not like animals.  I love all creatures.  (Stinging insects like hornets are not my favorite but I try to let them live their own lives as best I can  – read by that that when they are in my house, I give it to them and hide in the bathroom with my Ipad until hubby comes home to get rid of them – we choose our bravery.)

It can be humbling for some to accept our place in the pattern of the world and balk at the knowledge that we are not Preeminent.  Many people feel that they are the Masters Of All and have the right and knowledge to affect the perfect balance for all the rest of the world.

Stop It.

Join in ~ be humble ~ love and respect all creatures ~ understand your place.

Peace.