I saw a charm of magpies making a ruckus, taking turns throwing a small plastic bag in the air.
Soon, two crows descended on the scene, and the magpies darted away in a flurry of feathers and squawks. The crows took their turns with the bag.
As I slowly approached, the crows made some distance between us, and I investigated the bag.
It was partly filled with raw almonds. A hole had been torn open, so with the right toss, the right flick of the beak, an almond might fall out.
I opened the bag and scattered the almonds. As I walked away the magpies and crows swooped back in, took an almond each, and peace quietly permeated the place.
Joseph Thiebes 