Farmers do not like crows (乌鸦) because these birds eat
newly-planted seeds (种子). They are afraid that they will not have anything left
in autumn if the birds eat up all the seeds. It is hard for
farmers to get close enough to kill crows. Crows have very good eyes and good
hearing. They are also very careful. While some are eating the newly-planted
seeds, others sit on the tallest trees around the fields. "Caw-caw-caw," cries
the first crow to see farmers coming. All the other "lookout" crows join in the
crying and then, in no time at all, there is not a crow to be seen.
Farmers have found several ways to kill crows. But it is good that there
are still crows about. These birds are our friends. They pay for the seeds they
eat by killing pests (害虫). One pest, for example, can eat up several plants in a
few hours. With thousands of them at work in one night, we might find ourselves
without food to eat. This is why we should not try to kill off the crow. Up to now, no ways have been found to kill crows.