Thursday, May 9, 2013

Commuting, Birds and The Fall



Crow
encaustic 6 x 8

I live on the commuter highway - the flight path for the crows.  At dawn they head to the south.  From where they start, I really have no idea.  Some say its near the water tower, some say - north, somewhere.  But, its true, its like they go to work in the morning - every day.  Depending on the air currents, they sometimes fly right over our house and sometimes way out over the lake.  Sometimes very high and sometimes very low.  I'm talking hundreds of them - a staggering amount.  I have seen a cluster of them take a rest on their commute.  Hundreds of crows hanging in the town center parking lot all talking at once.  Its loud and raucous and its an incredible feeling to stand among them and just listen. 
Then, at dusk, they return home.  They fly by us again, heading north.  In the evenings, they are playful - dipping and diving and playing along their journey home.  In the mornings - its all business. 
I find the crows to be so interesting.  I like them.  Many don't.  They are naughty, really naughty.  We all have crow stories to tell.  Yet, I still like them.  There just is something about them that intrigues me. 

Its a heart breaker to tell this story - My husband and I found Mama and her nest gone this past Sunday morning.  I did find the nest at the base of the Hanoki.  It was a tragedy.  Four baby birds all dead from the fall of the nest.  So sad.  We're not sure what happened.  I don't think it was a predator, nor a crow.  It wasn't windy that night.  We think that maybe the nest just fell.  That it wasn't secure in its place.  I did see Mama again.  Its like she came to say goodbye to us.  She was sitting on the neighbor's railing.  She called to us so we would see her.  She fluffed up her feathers and shook her self.  Then she flew away, leaving our life as fast as she came into it. 

27 comments:

  1. Oh, so sorry to hear about the nest. That's very sad.

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  2. LOVE your crow - such rich colors in his dark feathers. Great composition - those little bubbles add a lot - draws my eye up and back around. SO sad about mama and baby birds:-(

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  3. Your crow is beautiful, but sorry to hear about the nest. I spend a lot of time watching the birds from my balcony, and I am always amused by the antics of the crows and magpies! Valerie

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  4. So much to love here, your moving tale and the beautiful painting, Crows often receive such a bad press, yet they are such charismatic birds.

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  5. Fabulous painting and what a wonderful story but so sad to hear about Mama loosing her babies like that:(. I agree that crows are real characters and although naughty and loud, they are great to watch! Happy PPF

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  6. Oh so sad. Though I really love you painting. Very atmospheric with great lighting.

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  7. Wow a poignant post! Your Crow is in flight, amazing how you do that!! I have two crows that hang around my house, they follow the kids to the bus every morning!They lead my car out of the complex...it's almost freaky how they stick with us! Possibly a reincarnate of a decease relative? They are rich with interest, as is your amazing artwork!!Sorry about the nest, very sad!

    Hugs Giggles

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  8. beautiful story and I love your amazing Crow, so full of tab textures.
    Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. beautiful work, sorry they had to leave...happy PPF

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  10. That crow is amazing. I love it that one leg is higher than the other, it's as if he's walking towards you. So sad about mama and her nest. Nature can be cruel ...

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  11. Your crow is stunning - I love the red background - it does lend him a menacing air! I am not sure how I feel about crows - definitely don't like the hooded ones that peck sheeps' eyes out- but they are super intelligent critters, aren't they?.

    I'm so sorry to hear about mama - that's heartbreaking- it really hasn't been a good bird week at all. We got a baby black bird in the animal shelter the other day - rescued from the jaws of a cat but when I went in today I learnt she had died - just too young to survive without its mum and siblings. Poor mama, but sweet that she came to say goodbye.

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  12. Oh your crow painting is fabulous! So sorry to hear about the mama though. HPPF!

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  13. Oh sad about the babies. And the heartbroken Mama bird. Your crow is so powerful. Our crows here hang about in the day and flock up in a big group at a nearby mall with bright lights to protect them from the owls...then back again in the morning calling about. Happy PPF

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  14. Oh that's so sad about the nest and babies! Poor Mama must be heartbroken...so sad.
    Your painting is lovely of the crow. We see a lot of them here and I love to hear them talking.
    We are still watching our nesting chickadees...waiting for babies!

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  15. What a beautiful post. The crow portrait is so lovely and the story is so sad and sweet. We need resilience in life -- the crow teaches us that. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. I love that crow and the background really brings it alive... you get such vibrancy in your colours... but sorry you lost the bird family... how sad...
    we get huge swarms of sulpher crested cockatoos that are extraordinary to see... they are like a sea of white and yellow morning and night... it is simply amazing...xx

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  17. Beautiful painting, Marji. You always bring life to your animal/bird paintings. The background is outstanding.

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  18. Awww the poor babies! This painting is Truly Awesome!

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  19. Bitter sweet post! Such wonderful work. Rich and vibrant!!

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  20. Striking painting, love the contrast of dark and light, scrumptious color and texture! <3

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  21. Such a sweet and sad story about the mama bird and her babies. love your crow that is a fabulous painting - and I kind of like them as well although I don't usually see so many congregating. HPPF

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  22. Hi Marji,

    I so loved your crow stories of their morning and evening flights. They are precious and very bright creatures.
    You have done a beautiful job on her portrait,love the sad atmosphere in her distant look.The composition, texture, strong warm colours and bright yellow all work together magically. Love your crow!

    My husband has a soft spot for them in his heart, always feeding them; I think I do too.
    They actually will call out to him to give them their treats. The other day he fed them walnuts and one of them picked up the walnut, flew over to the bird bath, dropped it into the water and then proceeded to peck at it in trying to open it.
    I am very sorry to hear about the lost babies, very sad.Like Joy said, crows have much to teach us.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Annabelle O,O

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  23. Love this awesome painting of the crow. Yes, I find crows interesting to watch. They are very intelligent and observe us as much as we observe them! awww...so sad to hear of the nest that fell down... Maybe she will come back.
    I get to see lots of birds from my balcony...kites, crows, pigeons, mynahs, sparrows, parrots...the other day a magpie robin perched on the railings for a few moments! Sometimes I see whole groups flying, so full of purpose, makes me think they have big appointments to keep!

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  24. That is so sad :o( I hope she makes another nest soon.
    I had a happy ending "nest" story, the babies are gone, but we were able to snap a picture before they left.
    Beautiful encaustic!

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  25. Love your crow. I'm with you, I like them.

    So sorry about the nest. Baby birds break my heart. So helpless, at the mercy of the big world...

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  26. Love your work and hearing all about the crows. There is something about them isn't there ... kind of characterful birds I think. Sad she lost her nest but that is the harshness of nature and hopefully she will build a more secure one next time. x

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