In the world of crows, a funeral is held
When one of their own has met its end
They gather in large, loud gatherings
To mourn, to share, and to defend
For when a crow is found dead
It’s not just a somber sight
It triggers an instinct within them
To mob the body with all their might
But the reason for this strange behavior
Is more than just a show of sorrow
It’s about gathering information
And planning for a better tomorrow
What happened here, they seem to ask
How can we avoid this fate?
Who are we ganging up against
To prevent a similar state?
For up to six weeks, they remember
The human who was near the slain
Associating them with the death
A link that’s not easily unchained
But humans are not their greatest threat
For when a hawk is in their sight
The mobbing intensifies even more
As they prepare to stand and fight
It’s a ritual reserved for their own
This funeral of crows so grand
A testament to their tight social bonds
And their instinct to protect their land
So when you see a gathering of crows
Around a fallen member of their kind
Remember it’s not just a mourning ritual
It’s a display of their intelligent mind. (\"Crows Have Funerals\") by Courtney Weaver Jr.