23rd April 2026 Mr Mani & Beena

 

When Mr. Mani Menon sent me this striking pen-and-ink artwork of crows titled “Murder Inc”, I was intrigued. After a quick search, I discovered that a group of crows is called a murder—a fact that delighted me and sparked curiosity. More than just a clever title, the piece vividly captures the essence and enigma of crow behavior.

Since childhood, I have harboured a deep-seated fear of crows. Yet, these birds are far more than loud, noisy, or aggressive—they are remarkably intelligent, equipped with sophisticated communication skills. Crows can recognise individual human faces, and if they take a dislike to someone, they spread the word throughout their community. They count, comprehend the concept of zero, and adapt to survive, eating almost anything—even garbage. Their resourcefulness extends to saving food for later, a testament to their planning abilities. When a crow dies, others gather around, investigating the cause—a display of social intelligence and collective learning. There is much humanity can learn from crows: their communication, adaptability, and resilience are lessons in survival. Never underestimate a crow.