June 24

At Martha’s Vineyard

Island crows congregate in the morning within the black oaks that border the yard next to the house. Just like our summer residents in Paxton, the birds here now seem more idle and given to mischief, squawking to one another teasingly in the predawn and setting the otherwise calm atmosphere on edge.

The first miscreant arrived at 5:00 am, landing near the top of a particularly tall oak, in a branch that suspiciously arched its way back toward the bedroom window. “Caw caw caw” came the noise, rapidly and in staccato. Then again, and again. This was followed by several arrivals, sparking a series of guttural exchanges and gossip so as to wake the neighborhood.