“It’s a murder!”

I was standing in a wide, open clearing when I heard that. Like anyone, I was startled. I thought, “Am I living a scene from Stand by Me?”

I looked around and saw my dad staring at something with an intensity that made me pause.

He pointed and told me to look over there, “About a hundred feet as the crow flies.”

Funny thing, all I saw were crows. Those ominous birds stood guard atop a rotted-out tree.

I remember yelling, “Where did you see a murder… Do I need to call the police?” I felt scared and alarmed. 

My dad bellowed out a laugh that filled the empty field.

When he stopped laughing, Dad told me that a group of crows was called a murder. 

He explained that long ago, a gathering of crows came to be called a murder. As scavengers, they were often found at battlefields and graveyards, picking apart carcasses for anything they could eat.

I recall dad grinning at me before asking if he scared me.

I didn’t want to show weakness, so of course I had to lie and say no.

My dad then walked me towards the river.

Even at a very young age, I always loved American history. My dad knew that and had something to show me that day. He knew a place where we could see our national bird: the bald eagle.

Although Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey as America’s national bird, our country chose the bald eagle for its strength, power, and status as a species native to the continent. And really, who couldn’t love the look of such a majestic bird?

It was not that common to see bald eagles in the wild. Concern about their survival ran so high that the U.S. made it illegal to kill bald eagles in the 1940s. They have been on the federal endangered list until recently. Most experts blame hunting, habitat loss, and pesticide use for their decline. 

Now, I have had a chance to see one in real life.

As we crested a hill, I saw that beautiful white-headed bird perched high in a tree. I couldn’t believe it. The sunlight hit its feathers just so, making it look almost otherworldly. 

I remember my dad teasing me that I didn’t have to be “eagle-eyed” to see that magnificent bird.

To tease back, I winked and said, “You know the early bird really does get the worm.”

He chuckled at my joke, but then turned serious. He started talking about the crows again.

That’s when he explained that crows are one of the few birds bold enough to attack eagles. When crows attack, they cling to the backs of eagles and start pecking at their necks. 

Obviously, I wanted to know how the eagles defended themselves. My dad told me how eagles do nothing… Just nothing.

They just start flying higher and higher. When the air gets too thin for the crows to breathe, the crows quit.

That’s when my dad taught me a lesson I will never forget.  He told me when people peck at you, whether it’s jealousy, gossip, or hate of any kind, rise above it. Not everything deserves your response. Just stay focused on your path and goals; don’t let someone bring you down. You’ll find that when you stay above it, that noise goes away.

And I’ll never forget these words he said, “You’re better than fighting with them. You’re meant to soar.”

I’ll always remember that day. Besides the time I spent with my dad, I received a great life lesson and saw one of my favorite animals. You could say I killed two birds with one stone. 

And yes, I know this story may be for the birds, but I’d appreciate it if you’d tweet about it.

Todd Thompson is the Leavenworth County Attorney. Send email to MBray@leavenworthcounty.gov.