I have fed a number of birds regularly thru winter, and among the species were some doves. This spring, two of them took a liking for each other and teamed up. For a couple of weeks, extensive construction work was jointly done and resulted in a nice little nest, undoubtedly a cosy home for the small family which expected to multiply. I could follow their daily chores from a window. And luck struck, as a couple of weeks ago four nice, spotted eggs were to be seen. I enjoyed watching the unfolding events.
Others were watching too.
A gang of crows never interfered or troubled the happy couple in any way, they were just watching, and from time to time checked in on the progress. The male dove would be out looking for food, leaving the female alone, but the crows did not bother her. Perhaps they were happy, too, on behalf of the fellow birds, the doves, that they were successfull, a naive observer could think. The crows continued to bother nobody.
Until one day just recently.
In the twinkling of an eye they formed a hunting party, and carefully organized, just like a chimp or whale hunting party, within a couple of seconds made a swift aimed attack at the nest. My yells and knockings at the window did not scare them this time, as opposed to what it had always done before if they tried to steal food from the other birds. With beaks, claws and wings they managed to drive the doves away and make the nest turn upside down and fall to the ground with its precious little eggs. These smashed to the ground – and the crows hurriedly ate them.
The doves could do nothing but watch. They circled a few times above the scattered pieces of egg shells and straw, and flew away, and I have not seen them since.
And to my mind came only one thought, Genesis 1:31:
“After that God saw everything he had made, and look! it was very good “
And subsequently also Psalm 104:24:
“How many your works are, O Jehovah! You have made all of them in wisdom. The earth is full of what you have made.“
...OUTLAW