The initial intent for a Monday evening outing was to get involved in civil discourse at the mayoral forum scheduled at a church on the west side of Dundee. However, the Dundee Presbyterian Church was completely closed because of the snow, as dramatically shown by a sign on the door. The people responsible for this decision obviously did not give any attention to the evening event's time, because the streets were free of snow, and basically dry. There was no hindrance to anyone wanting to attend the monthly meeting of the Dundee-Memorial Park Association. It was supposed to be an opportunity to visit with mayoral candidates, yet it did not happen because of a lame excuse by holy officials, which they spread upon the public. Sounds typical for a religious entity.
Upon my arrival on the east side of the place on the west side of Happy Hollow Boulevard, not even the two Boy Scouts leaders and the boys loitering outside could get inside to have their usual meeting.
With the initial intent quashed, the evening's walk continued northward along the Happy Hollow, and transitioned into an evening time to listen to the antics of robins. Their voice was certainly more pleasing that any verbal linguistics by politicians in the basement of a church.
Because of a caw or two or more descending from above, the realm of the natural sky became the place to focus upon, as there was the usual evening passage across the realm by the crows above Carthage. They fly here every day, hither and yon. It is a representation of the wild spirit of the world within a urban scape. There is nothing fake associated with the crows, whereas at the church, which is a structure where birds are not welcome, and conveys an obvious indifference to the natural world. Not everyone is welcome, despite what the pathetic signage of the church conveys on their placard signage near the intersection of Underwood Avenue and Happy Hollow Boulevard. These words are nothing but a bunch of trivial nothing.
Beyond the place of hypocrites, a few expressive crows were winging southward just a few minutes past 7 p.m. It was of no special significance, but was given attention because of an interest in these birds, as enjoyed on days earlier in the year.
The skies at the time were a sublime blue of a late winter sky. Only a few small, actually insignificant clouds there were, towards the east.
About ten minutes past the 7 p.m. hour, daylight savings time, the grand flight began. Groups of crows were going southward to a place near Leavenworth Street. There was an actual stream of black birds. Only an occasional caw occurred. Then there were more above and beyond the street place which was nothing but a pedestrian route, but obviously a spot to bird watch.
There was an effort to count every bird going past, up in the blue space of the sky. It was mostly accomplished, even though about 7:15 p.m. local time, there had to be some quick denotions, when a big bunch of spread-apart crows went past overhead.
After this extent of vivacious crows, it seemed that the number was so similar to another count, that there was a thought that perhaps more birds would be seen, and possibly convey something unexpected and new?
Then it happened. After a couple of minutes, nearly one hundred more flew past, readily visible from the hilltop perspective that can be uniquely appreciated only within the Carthage neighborhood.
Crows have been gathering and vividly expressing their presence during various hours of the lingering days of this enduring winter. Their occurrence has been specially seen and appreciated in a sublime manner or two or three, within this urban neighborhood of eastern Omaha.
The final date of any congregation this year is still not known, now.
Perhaps a pair lingering near a nearby conifer, might indicate a pair intent on a breeding space. So maybe the caw of the crow in Carthage will continue. Once spring weather arrives, the situation will be better known.
Nearly 200 of these beautiful birds flew past by 7:20 p.m., daylight savings time, on Tuesday, the next day. It was a bit of a repeat of the beating wings from Monday. How wonderful ... and a particular appreciation of the outing was a policeman on North 49th Street, doing his duty.