I Heard an Urgent Alarm in the Calling of the Crows

A Chance Encounter on a Snowy February Afternoon…

The blatant cackling had been persistent for about ten minutes now. I had heard it before and knew it to be obnoxious crows. This is what they do from time to time. They pick a tree and gather in a seeming crow convention. You kind of learn to ignore it. This however was different. Accelerating in volume, intensity and maximum urgency, it drew me to the sliding glass door to peer outside. it was clear an alarm was being sounded that could not be ignored. But what was it?

I stepped out onto the deck, looked to my left and could not ignore the dramatic activity of multiple crows encircling a barren winter tree, at ever accelerating velocity. They were of one purpose with their mission, but what was it?

Suddenly I saw it! How could I have missed it? A single, majestic red-tailed hawk perched high up on a singular winter branch had snared a lone black crow. The captured one made no movement as it lay in the efficient, all-encircling talons of the hawk. Surely this was no contest between the two fowl families. All seemed lost for this unfortunate crow. Too little, too late, as they say.

And then an unexpected, marvelous thing happened, right before my eyes. Additional forces of crows appeared on the scene assisting their comrades. Their mission’s pace increased to a yet higher intensity. Around and around the crow army flew and called out. It was as if all the world was being invited to stop what it was doing and witness what was about to take place.

The dignified hawk abruptly dropped the seemingly lifeless crow from its great talons. Simultaneously, the crow stirred, “came to itself” and mounted up into the air while the hawk spread its massive wings and took efficient flight in the same direction towards the forest that adjoins our property.

Not to be outdone, the cackling group of crows mounted their flight like a well-oiled machine in pursuit of their clan’s new mortal enemy. The aerial display of the hawk swooping up and down in mid-air to dislodge his pursuers was impressive and inspiring to say the least. The volume of the pursuit, like the previous rescue, increased seemingly for all the world to hear and be impressed by. It did however take itself to an unseen realm in the woods where I could no longer observe and be amazed by this chance encounter.

So what lessons could I take away from this serendipitously observed event on a February winter’s afternoon? Power in numbers? Never give up? United purpose, agreeing “as one” never fails?

I found that I could not settle on a single inspirational message from what I had just been privileged to witness. Rather, I would simply savor in gratitude the wonder of creation and its Creator in those rare moments when I have been seemingly invited to behold what for many, is unseen…beyond the veil of dailiness. That day I was given the eyes to see and hears to hear. It was urgent alarm and more… in the calling of the crows.