The artifacts we gaze at in museums are often used to interpret chapters of human history. The object we’ll look at today is not in a museum, yet it is a window into some important local history.

Crow history.

This golden seat of power has been passed down through generations.

When I say gold, it’s less glittering and gilded and more peeling yellow paint and rust. But still glorious in its own way.

Objectively, it’s one of a pair of weathered metal posts with rings on the top meant to hold a chain restricting access to the local elementary school staff parking lot.

Some background information: each urban crow family maintains a territory of about half a city block which they will defend against other crows.

The territory commanded by the golden ring is an enviable one, boasting several deluxe amenities.

Any competent crow real estate agent would point out:

• a large flat-roofed building (the school) —  handy for parking very young crow fledglings while they learn to fly
• a flag pole offering an eagle-eyed view of several blocks
• a fine selection of large trees, including nut-bearing varieties
• food occasionally dropped by school attendees

Peering back into the Crow Chronicles, this was once the domain of George and Mabel.

During that era, George, and only George, sat upon the golden ring.

It should be mentioned here that there are two rings at the entrance to this parking lot, but it’s only the one on the right, the one with the padlock, that seems to be ceremonially significant.

In 2017, when George went to the Great Roost In The Sky, Mabel held on to the territory. She found a new mate and, even as she lost the vision in one eye, became a fierce protector of the family territory and mother to several more batches of fledglings.

Also, she was the only one permitted to perch on the ring.

Mabel confidently held the ring for four busy years.

In 2021 she began to show signs that she was ready to loosen her grip on power, allowing one of her fledglings to take liberties forbidden to others.

Chip was a favourite of mine too. He would hang upside down from wires and follow me around the neighbourhood.

Mabel’s soft spot for Chip opened the way for him to perch beside her on the “practice throne.”

Eventually, she even let him perch briefly on THE ring. A few weeks after that I’d see him sitting there for extended periods.
At first, his posture lacked gravitas …

But pretty soon he got the hang of things.

I’d begun to worry that Mabel’s new behaviour meant she was feeling her age. Sure enough, early in 2022 she vanished—presumably to join George for eternal foraging in the Great Dumpster In The Sky.

The resulting vacuum of power led to a period of political instability; several indistinguishable crows vied for territorial dominance until a new power couple emerged in late ’22.

They seemed quite comfortable with me and my camera, so I assumed that at least one of them was one of Mabel’s fledglings.

By the next mating season (2023,) the male’s distinctive call had given him a name …

Bongo!

I like to think that Bongo is probably Chip — Mabel’s heir apparent, mature enough now to stake his claim, with backup from his new mate, Bella.

Bella and Bongo have been the undisputed territory holders for two nesting seasons, successfully raising multiple fledglings each year.

They seem to take turns sitting on the golden ring, although it’s hard to be certain as they look very alike when Bongo isn’t bonging. Often, they’ll take a golden ring each.

So that, from my oh-so-limited human perspective, is the history of the Golden Ring over the past decade or so.
Just a snippet of time in the scheme of things, and just one tiny crow territory out of thousands in the city.

It boggles the mind to think of the millions of crow stories untold out there.

Sometimes, the narrators of really old TV shows sum things up best.

Twilight Zone:

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. 

Naked City:

“There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.”

 

Related links for those of you keen for more crow history and something to read other than the human news:

• George’s Tough Year
• George and Mabel: A Love Story
• In Memory of George
• The Mabels
• Mabel the Matriarch
• Mabel: A Requiem
• Chip’s Tips for Hanging Around
• Bongo the Busker
• Bongo and Bella’s Announcement
• Bongo’s Advice For New Parents

 

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