I was at the end of a walk when I heard, then saw, a mob of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) circling nearby. It sounded and looked as though they were mobbing a predator so I decided to investigate further and walked quickly to the spot the birds seemed to be circling. In a little grove of oak and manzanita I found the fresh remains of a crow. The mob had disappeared and gone silent as soon as I arrived on the scene. There was no sign of the predator though I guessed that I might have interrupted the meal of a hawk or an owl.
As I looked around I saw that I was being regarded by a Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) with what appeared to be dignified indifference. I got out some paper and a pencil and began to draw. The vulture proceeded to take care of some personal grooming then gathered herself together and lifted off with enviable grace.
I returned to the spot where I first heard the ruckus. The crows had begun flying about again, though this time over a larger area while still making a lot of noise. There were more of them, too. Then most of them disappeared, though I could still hear them. Finding an open area, I found them roosting in a tree at the top of the ridge I had walked off of just before all of the excitement. I watched for a while as the crows flew out and about then returned to the tree, calling out their harsh cries. After a while, there were only a handful still in the tree, mostly silent. I packed up my sketch gear as the last of the crows dispersed.
I really love the third sketch, it's almost a book illustration. A good story too, a crime tale!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Debbie. I'm so moved by your telling of it. And I agree, that third sketch is very special.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a post last year about magpies grieving, they also gather, all a flap and walk around the lifeless body with raucous calls. It seemed the calls brought more and more Magpies till the tree was filled. I took photos from across the street but did not realize till later that there was a Hawk under the tree feeding. It seemed as if the Magpies kept coming back to pay their respects to the fallen one. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI really like this, too, Debbie. You're as good a writer as you are an artist.
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