If These Wings Could Fly
Chapter Fifty-Three
by McCauley, KyrieIn Chapter Fifty-Three of *If These Wings Could Fly*, the narrator attends a December town hall meeting focused entirely on addressing the growing crow problem in Auburn. Despite personal challenges, including a lack of transportation and strained family relations, the narrator makes the effort to participate by biking to the municipal building. Upon arrival, a solitary crow nearby humorously smokes a cigarette, setting a tone of subtle defiance as the narrator enters the meeting. Inside, the atmosphere is tense, with officials and residents gathering to discuss the failure of previous crow control methods and contemplate new solutions.
The town council reviews past efforts, including two crow hunts, with the game warden reporting disappointing results—while the initial hunt yielded over six hundred crows, the most recent attempt captured none. The crows’ apparent intelligence and adaptability frustrate the hunters, prompting discussions about hiring wildlife experts to use more aggressive deterrents like flares and loud noises. The town’s civil servants, who double as council members, weigh the cost and potential disturbances from these methods, highlighting the community’s growing desperation to resolve the issue.
Residents share personal grievances that illustrate the crows’ disruptive impact on daily life. A woman describes how the birds have learned the trash collection schedule, scavenging garbage with precision, while another man claims the crows killed his cat, eliciting concern and skepticism from officials. Additionally, a neighbor recounts the destruction of her cherished rose garden, emphasizing the emotional and material damage inflicted by the persistent birds. These testimonies reveal the depth of frustration and the desire for decisive action against the crows.
Ultimately, the town votes on Ordinance 4420, a proposal to allocate funds for contracting expert help to eradicate the crows. Despite the narrator’s lone dissenting voice, the ordinance passes overwhelmingly, reflecting the community’s collective resolve to confront the problem head-on. The chapter closes with the narrator’s urgent departure from the meeting, underscoring the emotional weight and urgency surrounding the issue of Auburn’s crow infestation.
FAQs
1. What was the primary purpose of the December town hall meeting described in the chapter?
Answer:
The December town hall meeting was entirely dedicated to addressing the problem of crows in Auburn and deciding how to remove them from the town. Unlike previous meetings where crows may have been mentioned incidentally, this meeting focused solely on strategies to manage and eradicate the crow population, reflecting the severity of the issue for the community.2. How did the crows demonstrate an unusual level of awareness during the last hunt, and what does this suggest about their behavior?
Answer:
During the most recent hunt, despite having thirty hunters registered, the game warden reported that no crows were shot because the birds flew too high, seemingly aware of the hunters’ firing range. This suggests that the crows possess a form of collective memory or learned behavior that allows them to avoid danger effectively, indicating a high level of intelligence and adaptation to human threats.3. Analyze the community’s attitude towards the crows as reflected in the town hall meeting discussions. What differing perspectives emerge?
Answer:
The community displays a predominantly negative attitude towards the crows, viewing them as nuisances causing various problems—from trash raiding and unpleasant smells to destruction of rose gardens and even alleged attacks on pets. Some residents, like Mrs. Stieg and the man who lost his cat, express personal grievances and advocate for extreme eradication measures. However, there is also a subtle undercurrent of skepticism, as seen in Bill DiMarco’s dismissive reaction to the woman’s detailed observations. The meeting reveals a tension between frustration and disbelief, but overall, the majority favor decisive action against the crows.4. Considering the proposed use of wildlife experts with flares, flashes, and noise to drive away the crows, what practical and ethical considerations might the town need to address before proceeding?
Answer:
Practically, the town must consider the cost of hiring wildlife experts and the potential disruption caused by loud noises and bright flashes, which could affect residents’ quality of life and local wildlife beyond the crows. Ethically, the town should weigh the impact on the crows’ welfare and the ecological role these birds play, as well as the possibility of unintended consequences from using extreme measures. Public acceptance and environmental regulations may also influence the decision, requiring a balanced approach that addresses both community concerns and humane treatment of wildlife.5. Reflect on the narrator’s reaction to the meeting’s outcome and the interactions with other characters. What does this reveal about their perspective and emotional state?
Answer:
The narrator’s solitary bike ride in cold weather, reluctance to ask parents for a ride due to “recent wounds,” and their quick, almost desperate exit from the meeting after voicing opposition reveal a sense of isolation and emotional vulnerability. Their decision to oppose the ordinance alone indicates a strong personal conviction and empathy towards the crows, contrasting with the majority’s hostile stance. The narrator’s dislike for Bill DiMarco’s condescension and their observant note-taking further suggest they are thoughtful, sensitive, and perhaps marginalized within the community’s discourse.
Quotes
1. “Well, we got out into the fields and the crows flew too high. Like they knew how high we could fire. Like they remembered.”
This quote highlights the remarkable intelligence and adaptability of the crows, suggesting they are aware of human tactics and can outsmart efforts to control them. It introduces a key theme of the chapter regarding the challenge of managing wildlife that seems almost sentient.
2. “The crows are in the trash every day. On every street. The whole neighborhood smells. They’ve memorized the trash days.”
This statement from a concerned resident illustrates the extent of the crows’ impact on the community’s daily life, emphasizing the problem’s persistence and the crows’ uncanny ability to track human patterns. It underscores the social nuisance aspect that fuels the town’s frustration.
3. “The crows killed my cat… Cornered the poor thing near my garage. Pecked it to death.”
Here, the chapter conveys the severity of the conflict between humans and crows, moving beyond inconvenience to actual harm to pets. This quote deepens the emotional stakes and justifies the town’s urgency in seeking solutions.
4. “I woke up at dawn and saw them tearing one of my prize-winning rosebushes into pieces, snapping the branches and plucking the petals off the blooms… Do you have any idea how many years it takes to cultivate a rose garden like mine?”
This vivid testimony from a resident about the destruction of cherished rose gardens personalizes the damage caused by the crows, reflecting the community’s sense of loss and frustration. It also symbolizes how the crows disrupt both nature and human efforts to nurture beauty.
5. “All those against the ordinance say nay.” … “Nay!” I call out, and everyone turns to look. Then they turn back. One nay. “All those in support say aye.” … The ayes have it.”
This moment captures the democratic decision-making process and the near-unanimous community agreement to take drastic measures against the crows. It signifies a turning point where the town commits to action despite the ethical and environmental complexities involved.