by Jo Hill

I love birds.  I go out looking for them, and take pictures of them.  I am a real bird lover.  But those crows that have arrived back Downtown are not part of my love affair with birds.

Like most everyone–I dislike walking under some of their favorite trees.  But mostly, I hate, yes, hate, the nightly flights right at my window.  To make matters worse, they come in right at dusk, and I can not get a good picture of the attack.  Thankfully, it only lasts a few minutes, but at times, they are right down scary.

I look out my window and the marvelous view is filled with crows.  Big, black, and nasty.  I look out at several hundred of them headed right at me.  It looks like they are flying right into my apartment, and some wait to the last minute to fly straight up. Not to be outdone, one or two will fly across the path of the others a few feet from me.

Is there anyway to rid Des Moines of these black creeps?  Not likely, but I am so thankful, it doesn’t last long.  I think some places set off loud noises, to keep their building clean, but it doesn’t seem to help.  They are smart enough to know a noise that doesn’t kill them means they can come right back.

Spring will come again, and they will leave as they do every spring, so I guess, I’m stuck with them for now…..