This is a treasure. I zoomed in to read every crow wise-crack.
I have my own nut and creature schedule I've somehow turned from whimsical morning thing into a stress-inducing addition to my life. Vacation? Who'll feed the squirrels?
Thank you for bringing a funny sunny ray of sunshine to the morning. Rest assured they love you. I saw a documentary a while back where they had smiling people being nice to crows and then a person in a scary mask being mean, and even years later when the person in the mask went by they dove at him. Seems they have very long advanced memories. So they're like Jewish mothers; they hold a grudge and they don't see the need to reciprocate.
I lived in Portland Ore for 12 years, which is OWNED by crows. I also fed the regulars on my corner lot, also saw that show about the little girl who got gifts, also craved for them to bring me gifts. They never did, and they definitely knew me when I came out the door. One time one of them flew down and ruffled my hair, scraping his talons along my scalp. I couldn't figure out if it was in friendship or a warning. So, I was thrilled and terrified at the same moment. Crows are so deep.
Great story and very artistic. It is strange that murder is the only crime used to group animals. There is no "rape of sea otters" or "arson or possums".
Love this. The panel showing the mom parenting from above just about killed me. I was once walking in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park (with some people who can confirm that my story is true) and happened upon what I really think might best be described (IMHO) as a murder of crows. Seriously. There must have been about a thousand crows chattering up in the trees, and it seemed as if all of their names were Alfred and Hitchcock and that they were about to swoop down and kill us. It was super cool.
Once I was standing on the back lot of a studio with an acquaintance around dusk. Many crows were swooping around. The man said, "And people wonder where Hitch got the idea from..." grinning and pointing to the next building -- which bore the classic outline of the man next to the door, since it was his old office.
A FOAF fed all sorts of little snacky bits to the crows in the parking lot of her office. They liked Wheat Thins best, so that's what they mostly got (Generic version, they're smart but they can't read).
This went on for much much less than 20 years, until one dusk when a man tried to mug her.
Suddenly, there was a murder of crows swooping down upon him, with all the cawing and flapping and pecking like unto Hitchcock.
He ran away screaming in pain and fear.
She provided many extra wheat thins the rest of the time she worked there.
I dont know that i believe this, having observed crows at length for decades and know them to fly away from dangerous people, but I certainly love the whole idea and I would like to pretend it is true.
I know the woman myself, and she's not the kind to lie. But she is one of those who animals gravitate to even without bribery. Pets that hide under sofas when strangers come are suddenly in her lap, that sort of thing. Deer will browse in her presence.
She has a vibe that probably would have gotten her burned as a witch back in the day. Definitely the crow incident would have.
I think you've just got Hollywood crows, all take and no give. She had neighborly small town crows. I have jaded suburban crows; the leader of the flock highly disapproved of me. They probably read Cheever, Updike, Flynn, and Moriarty.
At any rate, your cartoon is delightful. I didn't know about the baby noises.
A group of only 2 crows is called an Attempted Murder.
This is a treasure. I zoomed in to read every crow wise-crack.
I have my own nut and creature schedule I've somehow turned from whimsical morning thing into a stress-inducing addition to my life. Vacation? Who'll feed the squirrels?
But my creatures aren't as funny as yours.
I love your stories, and this one is especially delightful.
Thank you for bringing a funny sunny ray of sunshine to the morning. Rest assured they love you. I saw a documentary a while back where they had smiling people being nice to crows and then a person in a scary mask being mean, and even years later when the person in the mask went by they dove at him. Seems they have very long advanced memories. So they're like Jewish mothers; they hold a grudge and they don't see the need to reciprocate.
They are, to use a word familiar to our generation but perhaps not so much to offers, stuck up.
Maybe change to cashews? They could be foodie crows.
This is the best!!! I rehoused a mouse a couple of days ago, and thought so much of your post about the rats. I had all those feelings - and still do.
I agree with everyone here. So enjoyable
Thank you Sandra Lee!
Thank you, Merrill, wonderful!
Two true! stories about crows: a TED talk about crow vending machines https://youtu.be/bXQAgzfwuNQ?si=KvOjgNZnGoVje10G and an article about the collective memory of crows https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/01/21/crows-remember-a-facefor-a-long-time/.
I think I’d try to make them work for their peanuts. You clearly have an entitled murder there who need(s) to learn the value of a nut.
I lived in Portland Ore for 12 years, which is OWNED by crows. I also fed the regulars on my corner lot, also saw that show about the little girl who got gifts, also craved for them to bring me gifts. They never did, and they definitely knew me when I came out the door. One time one of them flew down and ruffled my hair, scraping his talons along my scalp. I couldn't figure out if it was in friendship or a warning. So, I was thrilled and terrified at the same moment. Crows are so deep.
Great story and very artistic. It is strange that murder is the only crime used to group animals. There is no "rape of sea otters" or "arson or possums".
No. It might be the only thing humanity has done right.
The otters are chill, but I hear that term could be applied to dolphins.
Love this. The panel showing the mom parenting from above just about killed me. I was once walking in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park (with some people who can confirm that my story is true) and happened upon what I really think might best be described (IMHO) as a murder of crows. Seriously. There must have been about a thousand crows chattering up in the trees, and it seemed as if all of their names were Alfred and Hitchcock and that they were about to swoop down and kill us. It was super cool.
Thank you EP.
Once I was standing on the back lot of a studio with an acquaintance around dusk. Many crows were swooping around. The man said, "And people wonder where Hitch got the idea from..." grinning and pointing to the next building -- which bore the classic outline of the man next to the door, since it was his old office.
Maybe it's the wrong bait, Merrill.
A FOAF fed all sorts of little snacky bits to the crows in the parking lot of her office. They liked Wheat Thins best, so that's what they mostly got (Generic version, they're smart but they can't read).
This went on for much much less than 20 years, until one dusk when a man tried to mug her.
Suddenly, there was a murder of crows swooping down upon him, with all the cawing and flapping and pecking like unto Hitchcock.
He ran away screaming in pain and fear.
She provided many extra wheat thins the rest of the time she worked there.
But perhaps LA crows are more jaded.
I dont know that i believe this, having observed crows at length for decades and know them to fly away from dangerous people, but I certainly love the whole idea and I would like to pretend it is true.
I know the woman myself, and she's not the kind to lie. But she is one of those who animals gravitate to even without bribery. Pets that hide under sofas when strangers come are suddenly in her lap, that sort of thing. Deer will browse in her presence.
She has a vibe that probably would have gotten her burned as a witch back in the day. Definitely the crow incident would have.
I think you've just got Hollywood crows, all take and no give. She had neighborly small town crows. I have jaded suburban crows; the leader of the flock highly disapproved of me. They probably read Cheever, Updike, Flynn, and Moriarty.
At any rate, your cartoon is delightful. I didn't know about the baby noises.
Keep hope alive.
Oh Merrill. Lovely story and the usual great drawings. What an artist you are and have always been and will always be.
Your compassion for animal babies is legendary. Maybe rein it in a little with these individuals.
I’m so sorry about the no gift policy. What assholes. Buttheads. Is there anything I can do to make this right?
Coincidentally, I was driving down a road near Phoenix, AZ and saw about two dozen vultures congregating.
No carrion.
A council or committee, is the appropriate (Internet referenced.) description.
Stay out of my head!