AMISH CROWS

My son Alex and I were on the back deck when I heard a loud snapping sound. Looking up in the trees I expected to see a small branch coming down but instead I saw a crow with a rather large twig in it’s beak.

Holding my hand across my forehead, to block the glare of the sun, I watched the crow fly to the top of our neighbors pine tree.

“A little nest building going on.” I stated ready, to turn my attention back to the conversation I was having with Alex, when I noticed several crows were at the top of the tree. They were cawing their approval or disapproval of the contribution that was being given.

“Why are their so many crows up there?” I looked over at Alex. “I thought it was the couple that made the nests.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe they’re arguing over whose nest it is?”

I took my phone from my back pocket and held it up for him to see. “Here’s one way to find out.”

I began tapping away and I soon had my answer. “Crows build their nests collaboratively.” I looked back up to the tree where the crows were still squawking at one another. “They don’t seem to be working very collaboratively.” I laughed. “They seem to have some strong opinions on what the nest should look like.”

“So who’s building it?” Alex asked. “Just some random crows getting together?”

I went back to the article I’d been reading. “Well, it seems Mom and Dad, along with some of their non-breeding kids from the previous year like to help.” I looked over at Alex. “It’s like watching the Amish with a barn raising!” I laughed. “Only for crows!”

“I’m glad they picked the neighbor’s tree.” Alex said as we watched another crow come over to our woods and begin working on snapping another twig off our tree. “It’ll be fun to watch them.”

I was still reading the article. “Well, let’s hope so.” I said as I slipped my phone back in my pocket. “Because they like to build multiple nests and then choose which one is the best.” I looked back at the tree. “You’re doing a fantastic job!” I called to them.

Alex and I were still staring up at the neighbor’s tree when my husband Steven came out on the deck. “What are you two looking at?” He asked.

“We’re getting new neighbors.” I said as I proudly pointed to the neighbor’s pine tree. “The crows are building a nest!”

Steven had a worried looked on his face. “You know crows can be very territorial.” He warned. “Especially when they have chicks to protect.”

I looked over at him confused. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Steven pointed to my seed feeders in the yard and then pointed to the hummingbird feeders on my porch. “They sometimes prey on smaller birds.”

“What!” I looked back over at the neighbor’s tree as another crow landed with a new twig. “Why can’t they just eat the bird seed like everyone else?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “They’re opportunistic eaters.”

I shook my head and sighed. “That’s a terrible spot for a nest!” I called over to the neighbor’s tree.

Alex patted me on the shoulders and laughed. “That was quite a roller-coaster of emotions you just had there.”

I sighed again. “Tell me about it.”