THE ONE-LEGGED CROW

                             Crows are ubiquitous scavenger birds that usually wake  up  us from our morning drowsiness. While most of us dislike them because of their irritating cawing that is raucous and jarring, I have  great fascination for them. Their agility and cunningness to dodge a stone or catapult shot at every situation has made them stand out among birds. While I was in school I used to watch them  perching atop the drum-stick tree in our backyard. Half a dozen crows were regular visitors to our backyard to eat the food or left-overs thrown in the garbage. Among them was a one-legged crow that hopped with difficulties to collect food. My heart went out with it. Maybe it was a hors de combat  soldier in the avian world and had sustained grievous injury while courting its favourite partner. It was comparatively bigger in size and had an impressive appearance ,with its shining black plumage, sharp beak and sparkling eyes. Even without a leg it used to keep at bay its rivals while nibbling at food materials.

                            Then after a few months there was a noticeable change in their group. I found the one-legged  crow missing from its companions. I sympathised with it. I apprehended that it might have got electrocuted somewhere or might have lost its life after its brave struggle to adapt itself to the harsh realities of life.

( Writer - Dr. Pradeep Kumar Nayak )