Crows and Learning

We used to have a lot of seagulls and vultures here in the Berkeley hills, but now it’s crow-land. Crows, black and extremely intelligent, loud and rambunctious, patrolling, discussing, holding court, announcing, group chasing a hawk… and constantly problem solving…. fascinating...

Just now, one of the neighborhood crows has landed on the wooden balcony railing, skillfully pecking at a big peanut to get to the nut. As if she is showing off, she gets to the treat quickly and elegantly using her beak and feet. Here for me to behold through the big window in from my living room. It is lunchtime: for me a slice of bread with chopped liver and pickles. The crow’s movements are precise and nimble, and when done she flies off across the street, leaving the empty shell on top of the railing. Where did she get this peanut?

Crows’ alertness, skills, and constant willingness to adapt and invent are definitely awesome and inspiring. In the last two decades nature programs have shown us the incredibly evolved brain of this bird. Perhaps they are outdoing us humans who seem to lag behind nowadays when it comes to the necessity of quick adaptation to huge challenges. Both Crow and its cousin Raven are seen in many traditions as wisdom holder. They appear in ancient Tlingit myths from Alaska, in Native American, Norse or Chinese mythology, in old German tales, all over the world. Crows and Ravens are messengers from the gods – they speak to us ancient knowledge. Can we listen? Can we learn?

Please share your crow stories :)