I like crows.

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They're not flashy birds. They also may be viewed negatively by some with superstitious beliefs; yet have no real understanding of the true nature or benefits of these intelligent birds.

Not all folklore involving crows is negative. For the culture and traditions of the populations of the subarctic territories, the crow represents magic and metamorphosis because it shares several secrets with the Great Spirit.

In Buddhism, crows are represented by Mahakala as he takes on a physical form in life.

Within Catholicism, crows represent God coming in and out of people’s lives. Crows symbolize adaptability, intelligence, reciprocity, cleverness, teamwork, psychic abilities, and transformation.

The meaning of crows may depend on one’s perspective and beliefs.

Not being superstitious, I believe they are interesting birds that are worth sharing habitat with. Although noisy, they eat a lot of bugs that could be harmful to my plants. For some reason, I also find their call comforting. It's like they are on guard to protect my yard.

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Crows are extremely intelligent birds that can be befriended. They’re exceptionally smart, maybe as smart as a seven year-old human child. They seem to have rituals and something like a culture. But most importantly of all, crows can recognize human faces.

We have several crows that visit our backyard. For the past couple of years, they have had a nest down near the stream at the edge of our property line. Although I don't try to approach them (nor feed them), a murder of crows routinely see me out in my backyard. Although our relationship isn't true friendship (because I've made no overtures to them), it is one of mutual acceptance. Our resident crows recognize me and obviously feel that I am not a foe and that I belong in their territory. That is good.

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I like crows because I feel that they help to somewhat protect my dogs from predatory hawks that pose a significant danger to my very small dogs.

How? Crows (sometimes solo but more often in a mob) will chase hawks off to protect their own young and territory. https://www.wildbirdscoop.com/crows-vs-hawks.html This lessens incidents of hawks hunting on my back deck or around our dogs' outside play area. Crows chasing hawks off (for their own motives) somewhat increases our dogs' safety.

Even one upset crow will also give me warning that a hawk is in the area so that I can then quickly get my dogs to safety. Today - just before I watched a hawk take down a songbird on wing over our backyard - the local crow in the photo (soon to be joined by others) raised an advanced ruckus that alerted me to the hawk danger. This crow had been peacefully dining before a hawk entered the area.

Unfortunately, hawks have been a major problem for us since 2020 https://pbase.com/britestar/image/170911759

In 2021, the crows showed up and reduced hawks routinely stalking my small dogs. Again, I like crows and view crows as a good thing to have around.