Why crows?

I've always been attracted to crows. No, I don't have "raven tresses" or anything like that; I just like them. They're smart, inquisitive, and interesting to watch. They like shiny things.

For more on corvids, see Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich. He's a great writer.

Unfortunately, I have seen fewer crows around here since West Nile arrived. They're supposedly making a comeback, but I used to see them everywhere -- and now I hardly see them at all.