I like Crows. I’ve said it before, I know. I sort of have a “thing” for them. Although, I guess this can be said of many animals, and me. That I have a “thing” for them. I think animals know a lot more than most people give them credit for.
We humans try to “rate” their intelligence. There are all sorts of lists with the “rankings” of their supposed intelligence. Mostly at the top are the usual suspects, like Chimpanzees, Dolphins, Elephants, Pigs, Parrots, Squirrels. Ravens usually rank way up.
But that is the thing. We humans don’t fully understand the awareness of the animal world. We try to “rate” them by measuring those animals against our OWN intelligence. Now that is funny if you ask me. As Einstein said, “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”
And Einstein was our smartest guy.
But yes. I believe animals have a higher awareness than we have. Certainly, their skills surpass us in many ways. Their sense of sight, and smell, and hearing. All the senses, really. Depending on the species. And then some of them have super strength and super speeds.
The only real human advantage, IF you want to call it that, is our ability to fashion tools. So we came up with spears, and knives, and then guns. And we kill them.
Yeah. A lot of times, for no good reason, either.
But back to Crows, and their Cousins.
Sometimes, and perhaps it is just that I am more aware of them, but sometimes, Crows show up where I am.
I can remember one day down in Charleston, SC. I had to stop at a Mega Store. There was barely anyone else there. It was a cold, windy, gray day. I parked way out in the lot because I enjoy walking. On my way back to my car, with no one around, a big crow flew right down and just stood there. Staring. Just me, and he/she, and my car. I stayed there for a long time, hanging out with that Crow. I explained early on that I didn’t have any food. I wasn’t carrying a thing in my hands. After what seemed like a very long time, I finally told her that I was too stupid to understand what it was she wanted. So she bobbed her head a couple of times, and then flew off.
I would love to have a Crow. A Companion Crow. Could you see me, walking around the Walmart, with a Crow on my shoulder? Yeah. Except that I think it wouldn’t be fair. It would have to be caged, probably, if I wanted it to stick around. And I don’t think that is right for the Crow. So, I will just have to admire them from afar.
But they are very inventive animals. Smart. By human standards.
I am told that Ravens, and Crows, in captivity can learn to talk better than parrots.
And somehow, I sort of have an aversion to Parrots. I think it is my name. Polly want a cracker, and all. Yet, when I am somewhere, and there is a talking Parrot, I really enjoy its company. The conversations are great.
Andrew Jackson’s parrot was kicked out of his funeral for swearing. True.
His bird outlived him. Most Parrots will live about 50 years or more. Crows, only about 8. Ravens, 15. I’m not sure why Parrots have such fortitude.
Ah. But the Crow. If you look up the symbolism, it says that the Crow is about life magic; the mystery of creation; destiny, intelligence, trickster, mischievous, and on.
Again, I think, maybe, all animals have the one-up on humans, when it comes to these things. We don’t have their awareness.
But. If those Crows are willing the share the answers, I sure wish they would give me a Caw.
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“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
― Albert Einstein, The World as I See It
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“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.
—”Old Man’s Advice to Youth: ‘Never Lose a Holy Curiosity.'” LIFE Magazine (2 May 1955) p. 64”
― Albert Einstein
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All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. — Albert Einstein
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