Hi ,
Years ago on our mission station in South Africa, I heard a strange sound - rather, a series of sounds - coming from the direction of the airstrip. I knew what it was, but couldn’t figure out what was going on. What I was hearing were crows. Lots of them! Loudly calling. But, what were they doing? I wasn’t prepared for what I saw next...
There are three types of crows in South Africa - the black raven, the collared raven, and the pied crow (which looks like it's wearing a white t-shirt). Upon arriving at the area where the crows were, I noticed that there were at least 40-50 of each type, sitting in three separate groups. The ravens were all in one tree, loudly calling. The collared ravens were all in another tree, doing the same thing, as was the group of pied crows sitting in yet another tree. There was quite a din. Then I saw
why.
On the ground in a depression between these trees was a dead pied crow. As I watched, and incredible thing happened. All of the black ravens suddenly took to the air and began circling the dead crow. One by one, they each dove low over the dead bird until they had each done so. Then, they all landed again. Then, the collared ravens did the very same thing. Each one swooped low over the dead one until they had all done it. Once they landed, all of the pied crows followed suit, doing exactly
the same. Once they were all done, all three groups disbanded and flew away, to do whatever crows and ravens do during their day! But me? I was left standing there with my jaw dropped. What had I just witnessed?! A..... crow funeral?
If you remember an earlier email I sent that dealt with the incredible intelligence of crows, this probably shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. I have always maintained that of all of the many creatures I have had the privilege of watching, or having as pets, no creature has ever come close to the intelligence of a crow! None!
One question.... no, two! What was God thinking when He made such an incredible creature?! And second, how on earth does an evolutionist explain how a chimpanzee (our supposed “closest relative”) gets blown out of the water by a bird in the intelligence department?
