Obama is in my town, and the ravens are flocking at my house again.

Between the fall of 2000 and spring 2001, all the ravens dropped dead of West Nile virus.

I didn't know how or why, but I knew then exactly what a bad omen that was.

So...feel free to share any omens you like on this thread.

:scared:

I wept with joy to hear their voices again.

This evening, for the first time since 2000, I saw a flock fill the sky. They landed in the trees by my building, and commenced arguing loudly.

I have missed them so much. I don't even know if it's an omen or anything, I'm just happy they're back.

If it is...maybe renewal and healing. :)

love your interpretation (and your new name!)! :toast:

of negativity, as ravens and crows. Them, and the negativity they celebrate.

The classic fantasy stories and horror films have them nailed.

Does that mean Bush taking office was a good thing?

And the greater the numbers.

They're a fire alarm. I don't care for that sort of fire.

I don't much care for it myself, but it's good to have an alarm system.

You've given me something to ponder further, for which I thank you. :toast:

after hearing them in a tree next to my outdoor swing, where they have never gathered before, i went into the house, looked out the window and saw a fire about a mile away....

i turned on the local radio station and my section of town was soon put on alert to vacate the area...but the fire went suddenly northward and the alert ended.

I now know that the crows will warn me of any possible emergency.

Also, when the second of two friends passed on, that very day 2 crows flew to my deck and sat on my railing, again which they Never did, and looked into my living room where i was sitting.

I was certain that the spirits of my 2 friends were reassuring me that they were together, and having a great time....

Or are you working from secondhand stereotypes ('classic fantasy stories and films')

Ravens and crows are known to eat Carrion and they're smart enough to know that columns of marching troops lead to supper. That's where the fear of crows comes from, I think.

I have a parrot and we walk together outside. I look at what he looks at, and so I've learned a lot about my neighborhood crows over the years.

My neighborhood crows and the ravens in my nearby forest are very nice. They protect smaller birds against hawks and eagles. And they look out for us, too.

I allow my parrot outside on my porch and in my front yard, in not-awful weather. Certain neighborhood crows come down to 'our level' to visit him. I think they're a pair that live in the tree shading my house. They don't eat his food or his litter (smaller birds and squirrels do), but just hang out on the fence nearby. In fact my bird's developed a special call for them.

When he was very young, they once stood outside our windows to holler warnings at us when a hawk was around so we can take him inside. Over time we learned to listen out for them.

On another occasion my husband and I were trying to fly our parrot in our neighborhood park. He did fly, and decided to land in a tree instead the of the ground near me (which was normal). It was a rather quiet and empty day at the park (or we wouldn't try this stunt) and when Bird landed, DH and I were knocked off our feet by an eruption of cheers -- from a flock of crows roosting in an enormous eucalyptus at the other end of the field. It was obvious they were watching us. The noise continued as we rummaged for a fallen branch and fished my bird out of the tree -- in waves, much the way you'd expect an audience to laugh and cheer a good comedy. I will never forget that day. I almost felt like bowing to them before we left.

I think, what we believe (habitually think and feel) about crows, for example, is what we will see. If we're convinced they're a bad omen, we'll feel bad, scared, worried...which would lead to more of the same.

anyway, crikket, ...ypu've made me want a parrot! :D

different motivations based on our own experience.

In fact in my last post I almost described the crows of the suburbs acting like dogs would in the countryside. I'm reassured to have them around for the reason you don't like them: they warn of danger.

What you call 'celebrating negativity' I interpret as 'defense and calls for help' - they have no thumbs after all, and can't do much more than holler and peck and rally support.

Thanks :)

I love crows, even when they're annoying. I could watch them all day.

Thanks so much for sharing them.

One of my favorite memories is that of watching a great band of over a hundred corvids--all crows, jays, and magpies--chasing off two hawks who'd invaded our neighborhood. It was magnificent to see. :) All the corvids are incredibly intelligent birds. I love them all.

I live with one, too (a member of the corvidae family). She's a scrub-jay, a brilliant blue bird that's common here (much different from the eastern jays--no crest). We've had her since she was a wee fledgling. Her feet were deformed and she had fallen and was injured, so we took her in to save her from the neighborhood cats. We'd planned to release her when she was able to fly, but her feet were still deformed and she had trouble maintaining her balance. So, she lives with us, and has for many years now. She's awesome! :)

I see crows (MD suburb).

They've been around, but last evening was the first time in 9 years I have seen them in large enough numbers to fill the sky, horizon to horizon to horizon.

That's probably been a regular occurance once you get out to around Germantown or so.

Will look around. NOW the ice has got me!

They were once "keepers of the corn" for Woodland People.

Native people depended on their keen eyes and big mouths.

They warn but also protect.

However I did see quite a few at the Tower of London in Great Britain. They are HUGE. I never imagined that ravens are over two feet long from beak to tail.

2 feet long!?!:wow:

I don't think I've seen a bird that big.

Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Raven

"The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is a large all-black passerine bird in the crow family. Found across the northern hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids.

There are eight known subspecies with little variation in appearance—although recent research has demonstrated significant genetic differences among populations from various regions. It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the Thick-billed Raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity, the Common Raven is between 56 and 69 cm (22 to 27 inches) in length, with recorded weights ranging from 0.69 to 1.63 kg (1.5 to 3.6 pounds)."

The humongousness was how I could tell.

soon die. A new day is dawning.

They could represent the death of the old ways, while heralding in the new ways.

One can hope.

Not all cultures see crows and ravens as ill-omened. Sometimes their tales are quite beautiful, especially some of the tales from the native peoples of North America. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I do. :)

Rainbow Crow
(Lenni Lenape Tribe)
retold by S. E. Schlosser

It was so cold. Snow fell constantly, and ice formed over all the waters. The animals had never seen snow before. At first, it was a novelty, something to play in. But the cold increased tenfold, and they began to worry. The little animals were being buried in the snow drifts and the larger animals could hardly walk because the snow was so deep. Soon, all would perish if something were not done.

"We must send a messenger to Kijiamuh Ka'ong, the Creator Who Creates By Thinking What Will Be," said Wise Owl. "We must ask him to think the world warm again so that Spirit Snow will leave us in peace."

The animals were pleased with this plan. They began to debate among themselves, trying to decide who to send up to the Creator. Wise Owl could not see well during the daylight, so he could not go. Coyote was easily distracted and like playing tricks, so he could not be trusted. Turtle was steady and stable, but he crawled too slowly. Finally, Rainbow Crow, the most beautiful of all the birds with shimmering feathers of rainbow hues and an enchanting singing voice, was chosen to go to Kijiamuh Ka'ong.

It was an arduous journey, three days up and up into the heavens, passed the trees and clouds, beyond the sun and the moon, and even above all the stars. He was buffeted by winds and had no place to rest, but he carried bravely on until he reached Heaven. When Rainbow Crow reached the Holy Place, he called out to the Creator, but received no answer. The Creator was too busy thinking up what would be to notice even the most beautiful of birds. So Rainbow Crow began to sing his most beautiful song.

The Creator was drawn from his thoughts by the lovely sound, and came to see which bird was making it. He greeted Rainbow Crow kindly and asked what gift he could give the noble bird in exchange for his song. Rainbow Crow asked the Creator to un-think the snow, so that the animals of Earth would not be buried and freeze to death. But the Creator told Rainbow Crow that the snow and the ice had spirits of their own and could not be destroyed.

"What shall we do then?" asked the Rainbow Crow. "We will all freeze or smother under the snow."

"You will not freeze," the Creator reassured him, "For I will think of Fire, something that will warm all creatures during the cold times."

The Creator stuck a stick into the blazing hot sun. The end blazed with a bright, glowing fire which burned brightly and gave off heat. "This is Fire," he told Rainbow Crow, handing him the cool end of the stick. "You must hurry to Earth as fast as you can fly before the stick burns up."

Rainbow Crow nodded his thanks to the Creator and flew as fast as he could go. It was a three-day trip to Heaven, and he was worried that the Fire would burn out before he reached the Earth. The stick was large and heavy, but the fire kept Rainbow Crow warm as he descended from Heaven down to the bright path of the stars. Then the Fire grew hot as it came closer to Rainbow Crows feathers. As he flew passed the Sun, his tail caught on fire, turning the shimmering beautiful feathers black. By the time he flew passed the Moon, his whole body was black with soot from the hot Fire. When he plunged into the Sky and flew through the clouds, the smoke got into his throat, strangling his beautiful singing voice.

By the time Rainbow Crow landed among the freezing-cold animals of Earth, he was black as tar and could only Caw instead of sing. He delivered the fire to the animals, and they melted the snow and warmed themselves, rescuing the littlest animals from the snow drifts where they lay buried.

It was a time of rejoicing, for Tindeh - Fire - had come to Earth. But Rainbow Crow sat apart, saddened by his dull, ugly feathers and his rasping voice. Then he felt the touch of wind on his face. He looked up and saw the Creator Who Creates By Thinking What Will Be walking toward him.

"Do not be sad, Rainbow Crow," the Creator said. "All animals will honor you for the sacrifice you made for them. And when the people come, they will not hunt you, for I have made your flesh taste of smoke so that it is no good to eat and your black feathers and hoarse voice will prevent man from putting you into a cage to sing for him. You will be free."

Then the Creator pointed to Rainbow Crow's black feathers. Before his eyes, Rainbow Crow saw the dull feathers become shiny and inside each one, he could see all the colors of the rainbow. "This will remind everyone who sees you of the service you have been to your people," he said, "and the sacrifice you made that saved them all."

And so shall it ever be.

http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/nj7.html



Crow brings daylight
An Inuit story
retold by Oban

A long time ago when the world was first born, it was always dark in the north where the Inuit people lived.

They thought it was dark all over the world until an old crow told the them about daylight and how he had seen it on his long journeys.

The more they heard about daylight, the more the people wanted it.

"We could hunt further and for longer," they said. "We could see the polar bears coming and run before they attack us."The people begged the crow to go and bring them daylight, but he didn't want to. "It's a long way and I'm too old to fly that far," he said. But the people begged until he finally agreed to go.

He flapped his wings and launched into the dark sky, towards the east. He flew for a long time until his wings were tired. He was about to turn back when he saw the dim glow of daylight in the distance. "At last, there is daylight," said the tired crow.

As he flew towards the dim light it became brighter and brighter until the whole sky was bright and he could see for miles. The exhausted bird landed in a tree near a village, wanting to rest. It was very cold.

A daughter of the chief came to the nearby river. As she dipped her bucket in the icy water, Crow turned himself into a speck of dust and drifted down onto her fur cloak. When she walked back to her father's snowlodge, she carried him with her.

Inside the snowlodge it was warm and bright. The girl took off her cloak and the speck of dust drifted towards the chief's grandson, who was playing on the lodge floor. It floated into the child's ear and he started to cry.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" asked the chief, who was sitting at the fire. "Tell him you want to play with a ball of daylight," whispered the dust.

The chief wanted his favourite grandson to be happy, and told his daughter to fetch the box of daylight balls. When she opened it for him, he took out a small ball, wrapped a string around it and gave it to his grandson.

The speck of dust scratched the child's ear again, making him cry. "What's wrong, child?" asked the chief. "Tell him you want to play outside" whispered Crow. The child did so, and the chief and his daughter took him out into the snow.

As soon as they left the snowlodge, the speck of dust turned back into Crow again. He put out his claws, grasped the string on the ball of daylight and flew into the sky, heading west.

Finally he reached the land of the Inuit again and when he let go of the string, the ball dropped to the ground and shattered into tiny pieces. Light went into every home and the darkness left the sky.

All the people came from their houses. "We can see for miles! Look how blue the sky is, and the mountains in the distance! We couldn't see them before." They thanked Crow for bringing daylight to their land.

He shook his beak. "I could only carry one small ball of daylight, and it'll need to gain its strength from time to time. So you'll only have daylight for half the year."

The people said "But we're happy to have daylight for half the year! Before you brought the ball to us it was dark all the time!"

And so that is why, in the land of the Inuit in the far north, it is dark for one half of the year and light the other. The people never forgot it was Crow who brought them the gift of daylight and they take care never to hurt him - in case he decides to take it back.

http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/crodayli.htm

in MD suburb of DC.

Few weeks ago, saw HUGE number of geese hanging around, eating on Mall surrounding Washington Monument!

No ravens, tho.