When a crow says an intelligent thing, chickens may laugh at it. This is the laughing of the sand castles at the powerful waves! ~Mehmet Murat ildan
Crows play a part in my new book, When the Meadow Blooms. In fact, a story about ravens bringing gifts to a girl who had fed them was one of the flashes of inspiration for the story. I wanted to have a girl in my story to have a similar experience. But the gifts Sienna’s crow friends brought her had to be important to the story, and they were.
While I was writing some of the scenes with Sienna and her crows, Stanley and Josephine, I wondered if perhaps readers would accept my crow characters. My research on crows showed they are very intelligent birds. Crows do use tools and at times even fashion them to fit the job, whatever it is. If they are thirsty and they find water too low in a container to reach with their beaks, they will carry rocks to drop into the water to raise the level high enough to drink.
So, the research backed up my vision of Stanley and Josephine. Then after the story was published and I was talking about Sienna’s crow friends, I got a couple of stories from readers to bolster my research.
Here’s the first thing from Debra.
I feed them and call them. As a child we rescued an injured crow. He later followed us around and acted like our security system, scolding visitors. He stole silver chewing gum wrappers, a fork and small shiny things we tempted him with. He also brought gifts. I loved that he sat at the top of the pole when we hung clothes on the line…and the head of the scare crow when we worked the garden. I have always loved them because of “Jim” and mine know me.
And then Sonja shared about some crows she knew.
Crows are a part of my small town early years. One was especially gregarious as he/she knocked on everyone’s door and then hid and basically played a door knock ditch game. Eventually he made his presence known and wanted breakfast. Then those were the Minnesota days of “clotheslines.” Well, watch out or the crows would unpin everything and in a couple of minutes all was on the ground. One even spoke some words and they were simple words but clear as a bell. I had even written about it in my memories that I was putting together. Here in Utah, I haven’t seen too many but when I do, I have to think back on those days.
I can’t say I’ve ever had any interaction with crows myself, but I loved hearing from Debra and Sonja about the crows they knew. I did have fun letting Sienna make friends with her crows. Now, when I see one flying past and cawing to beat the band, I wonder what message he’s taking back to the rest of the crows.
In many traditions, crows are messengers and close attention is paid to their actions. ~Robert Moss
What do you think about crows?
They do mess with a farmer’s corn crop and as Sonja indicates aren’t too worried about those scarecrows.
Comments 8
My dad had a pet crow while growing up on the farm in Ky. It recognized people, guns and brought shiny objects to dad. We enjoy seeing them here in OH on our farm as well. Very intelligent birds ! One is bad , Two is luck ,Three is health ,Four is wealth , Five is sickness , Six is death .
Author
Interesting little counting rhyme. I have never heard that although I did know that some think seeing crows at certain times can foretell death. Maybe Stanley and Josephine being two brought luck to Sienna. 🙂
Your dad’s crow proved the research material I read about the crows recognizing people and bringing gifts. I don’t know about the guns, but I’m assuming the crows weren’t happy to see guns and made themselves scarce at those times. Thanks for sharing about your dad’s pet crow.
Like Sienna I feed to crows 2 of them at my great grandparents. They never seemed to bother the crops and they we the only crows that we seemed to see. So the crows in the story were believable characters to me.
Author
Glad Stanley and Josephine seemed to be fine crow characters in my story, Carissa. And I love knowing you feed a couple of crows at your great grandparents’ place sort of the same as Sienna did and that your crows behave the way Sienna’s did and don’t bother the corn in the garden. 🙂
Love the crow stories from Debra and Sonja, and that Debra’s stayed around after they helped him. I knew they were supposed to be smart birds, but the doorbell ditch is pretty funny and would probably be recorded on many doorbell cams if one did that now. I loved the way you used the crows in When the Meadow Blooms.
We have a sparrow that keeps coming to look at my daughter’s cat as she sits in the window. It isn’t afraid at all, and the cat just watches it so far. She might eat the bird if the glass wasn’t there and I know our male cat would eat the bird for sure, because he lunged for the window the last time the bird came to visit. I am glad he couldn’t catch it! 🙂
Author
I have to admit I was a little surprised at the doorbell trick, Hope. That was one smart crow. I’m glad you thought the crows fit into the story with Sienna. It’s always good when ideas line up and work out when I’m writing a story. Just like Dirk finding that verse about a stone heart.
The sparrow better watch out if that cat ever figures out how to open that window!! I think it’s being a tease.
I felt that was one of the most ingenious parts of your book–the things you find out about animals– amazes me. I never knew that about crows, but it is a delightful and interesting thought that God’s creatures can display human-like features to their personalities. But what was really fascinating was how you wove that into the story line to such significance and interest! I truly loved When the Meadow Blooms and it was such a great read. Love all your books. Keep bringing us such wonderful tidbits in your stories!
Author
So glad you enjoyed knowing more about my crow research, Amy. When I’m writing a book, I’m always surprised at how even minor things have to be checked to be sure it can fit in a story. That’s especially true with historical fiction since you don’t want your character doing something or saying something they absolutely wouldn’t have done or said in that time period. But the internet is so handy with that. Especially with words or expressions. Some of the online dictionaries tell you when such and such word was in common use. Maybe I’ll write a post about that sometime.