Chris 77

The Humble Jackdaw

I love four things in life: chocolate, books, e-marketing (it’s my job) and birds (ones that fly and ones that don’t). I love the blue tits, the birds of prey and the swans, even though my Nan does insist that they break people’s arms for no good reason. But there is one bird that I love that my Nan despises above all else: it is the evil Jackdaw, of course. The crow-like bird that hangs from the bird-feeder in her garden and nicks all the grain.

Now, there’s no point arguing with my Nan. You can leave your “It’s a bird feeder, so why is it in the wrong?” argument at home and you can forget about educating her on the fact that although the Jackdaw looks like a crow, it actually isn’t one. Her point is this: it’s in the crow family and therefore it is a nuisance. There’s just no talking to her as far as this creature is concerned.

I keep my love and admiration for the Jackdaw buried and hidden at all times, of course. It’s tough, but it’s the only way. Whenever I find myself about to open my mouth and say “Look at its lovely silvery head!” I instead must say “horrible evil thing, be gone!” It’s a sad state of affairs but it is the way it is. I can hack it, though. Every now and again the Jackdaws look at me with their beady little eyes and can see I’m on their side. That’s good enough for me.