Crow Turf

Have you been on “Kuppam road” which runs parallel to “Santhome road”? South Chennaites who travel between Adyar and Beach Road would know what am talking about! This road is a blessing in disguise during peak traffic hours. The road is well laid of course with lots of speed bumps.

This road has a row of fishermen dwellings on one side and busy fish shops (not on the entire stretch though!) on the other. These fish shops attract so many people and is normally crowded during evenings. Well, that is when I take that route and I am yet to do that in the morning to see if it is crowded even then.

That is just to give an idea of what to expect on the road. What one might normally not notice on that road is the "crow turf" as I prefer to call it.

There are a series of lamp posts on this road. One thing I have noticed during early evenings on that road is how the crows define their turf. One crow perched up on one lamp post. Just one per lamp post and no more. It appeared unusual to me as I have never seen that before. I started thinking about it only after I saw the same thing every time I had gone that way, "one crow per lamp post"!

It appeared like an unstated agreement that each one would stick to his/her area and not trespass on another's. No crowding, no hovering and so much silence and discipline! Yes, it is more human than crow! Aren't crows supposed to be sharing what little they get by calling out the others? Is it because they are sure that they would all get their share with so much food in front of them?

I know not, but I really marvel this! If you take that road in the evening, when it is still day light, look up and see if it happens. You may see the row of lamp posts with one crow on each!