A drive back to Ohio in mid autumn can be a pleasant experience; not this time! A storm system, centered over the Great Lakes, brought wind and cold rain to the Midwest today, producing gray skies, low clouds and a damp landscape. Dead leaves, brown or faded yellow, clung to the winterized trees, corn stubble withered in the steady rain and shallow pools dotted the grassy fields. Wild creatures, taking cover in these raw conditions, were few and far between, represented by an occasional red-tailed hawk along the highway, a group of wild turkeys in the Wabash Valley and a lone coyote in southeast Indiana; a notable exception was the large number of crows.
Crows are oblivious to the vagaries of Midwest weather. Today, small flocks scavenged along the Interstate, scoured the crop fields or gathered in the bare timber. Raucous and aggressive, these birds are often maligned but one must admire their fortitude and perseverance. These traits, after all, have ensured their success in a fickle and competitive environment.
