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Growing up as a child in Ayikoayikoo, a suburb in Cape Coast, in the Central Region, a region in the Southern part of Ghana overlooking the Gulf of Guinea it was really interesting. In my native community as a child, I witnessed a lot of species although at the time I didn’t know about them, in retrospect knowing about the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) called pɛtɛ in my local language, I wish I could have seen more of it as they have drastically reduced now, back then I could see so many individuals at dump sites also behind my house was a small forest patch that had no clear ownership about 14217 square meters in size. Because this area was undeveloped in a large urban area, many number of species occupied it, I would not know of the smaller species however, I can vividly recall the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) , the Pied Crow (Colvus albus) called Anene in my local language and the Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus migrans parasitus) possibly because they were large and very conspicuous however, when I factor in occasional visits to my grandmothers place also in the Central Region but several kilometres away from our house, I recall constantly asking her to get me a bird.
Even at that age I was so obsessed about birds that I wanted one to keep as a pet. Though it might not have been a great to keep on as a pet that is restricting its movement, however, it is no surprise that today I am seated in the lecture room in an institution focused on birds. Back to the story, at my grandmothers’ I witnessed a group of birds with so many nests made of strands of dried leaves, now I know they are some species of weavers. In my own community I found how people related with one species in particular, the Pied crow (Corvus albus). Crows were persecuted because they were seen as a nuisance, it usually stole food and even bars of soap from unsuspecting residents in the community. I recall several constructions erected, as a crucifixion cross and some Pied Crows (Corvus albus) killed where crucified on the cross as a deterrent to others from causing harm. I could never miss the black and white colouration on the dead bird as I looked up.