Caw caw! There are crows in the library!

For a slightly spooky experience, be sure to visit the library from through November 9 to see the Purple Grakle, or Common Crow Blackbird (plate 7) on display in our Audubon case. The male and female birds are shown on a corn stalk. There must not have been a scarecrow in this field to protect the crop, because the two birds are depicted caught in the act of eating! In fact, the female is sown with corn kernels in her beak, while the male is perched below her.

Scarecrows, which are designed to look like humans, are placed in fields to protect crops from crows and other birds. The use of scarecrows dates back to antiquity, though nowadays they tend to pop up most frequently this time of year as Halloween or autumnal décor. When a scarecrow is in use and a crow is deterred from pilfering corn, it also eats acorns, berries, and seeds, along with small rodents, crayfish, and insects. You can read more in the Audubon Field Guide.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian