The Birds Are Not A Dangerous Species

If you have never seen the Alfred Hitchcock move “The Birds,” then you are missing out on a great horror film. This movie had everyone afraid of a flock of birds congregated in one area. For centuries and centuries birds have been objects of fascination for mankind. Birds have played an important role in history. It may be the discovery of new species of birds. It may be that certain birds are called harbingers of death. The one thing that is for certain is that they have been around since the dinosaurs and will likely be around for centuries to come, barring a huge climatic global change.

The raven and the crow have definitely been portrayed in a bad light as the birds that you do not want to have around. Edgar Allen Poe turned the raven into a sinister messenger of doom with its cries of “nevermore.” Readers have been fascinated with his portrayal of the raven. Even fairytales have plugged away at the image of the crow/raven. Take for example Disney’s classic tale of “Sleeping Beauty.” The villainess has a crow/raven that is used as her evil spy.

The wild bird definitely deserves some respect. It is just like other wild animal. You have to keep in mind that it is territorial, will defend itself and has to find a food source. And while crows/ravens have received some bad press thanks to authors and filmmakers, vultures and other carrion eating birds have repulsed mankind for eons. This bird species is a scavenger. Anytime you see vultures or buzzards circling in the air, you know that there is either something dying or something that has already died. Most people do not set up bird feeders to attract these types of birds. They want colorful birds, songbirds and delicate hummingbirds to grace their gardens and yards.

Perhaps it is time that people got over their fear of the birds that have gotten such a tough break in literature and movies. You do not have to worry about going outside and a murder of crows attacking you for no reason. The raven is not a symbol of death or a portent of bad things ahead. They are just two legged, winged wild animals that serve a specific function in the animal kingdom.