NEW NEIGHBORS

So what is it with these huge black crows? It really is like something out of Hitchcock’s The Birds. I first noticed them in 1998. Bob, our Boxer, was 3 months old. We were walking in Huntington Park on Nob Hill and he came to a dead stop. His ears went back and his shoulders hunched up as he slowly lifted his head to peer up into the sky. I looked up and saw a crow flying low, in circles. Odd, I thought. I had never noticed a crow in the neighborhood. And odd, I thought, because Bob was clearly disturbed. Did he know something I didn’t? Had he been carried away by crows in a previous life? Were we about to be carried away? I flashed on Suzanne Pleshette. The chain smoking, depressed, sweater-set wearing spinster school teacher, Suzanne Pleshette, wasting her life away in Bodega Bay, only to be pecked to death by a flock of maniac crows. Should I start singing ‘knick, knack, paddy-wack, give your dog a bone..."? Should we flee for our lives? Where were my Camels?

You will be pleased to know that we got home safely. But since that day I have noticed increased ‘crow activity’ in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, there are fewer robins. But there are also fewer pigeons which is just fine with me. In an attempt to get to know my new feathered neighbors, I decided to get up close and personal with one the other day. I was on my morning walk at Crissy Field. Perched on a rock in front of the Warming Hut was a rather large crow. I approached half expecting it (him? her?) to fly away. It just stared at me, over its shoulder, with its beady little black birdie eyes. I got closer. It remained aloof. I got even closer. Now I was within 4 feet of my fine feathered friend. And do you know what? It was quite beautiful. Shiny coat, strong profile. An assured bird. And I can respect that. But could they just work on that voice?

Comments

[Karletta Moniz]

I have never heard this but I like the idea!

[robert]

I've heard somewhere that these large crows are the offspring of escapees from Hitchcock's "The Birds" set. Is this true? E-mail me if you have any info.

[Shell]

On Monday I watched a trio of crows surfing the drafts above a Pac Heights high rise for a good fifteen minutes. They're jokers, I tell you; they were just having fun. You definitely painted a picture for Halloween, Ms. Pleshette! Funny!

[francis]

Yeah nice picture of bob. Maybe it just a good time of the year for them.

[Betsy]

Funny story and great photo of Bob! We noticed a marked increase in the crow population in Torrance around the same time - entire flocks on our front lawn. Perhaps it is a state-wide phenomenon?