Learning From Spring Fever

Spring is arriving in Northern Virginia, the editorial headquarters of ComplianceAction. And this editor is affected by the advent of spring. New growth, new sunshine, and new activity outside all contribute to a sense of excitement and opportunity. Let's overlook the tree pollen for now with all its allergic properties. Spring is worth it.

Spring is far enough along here to have the bird world busy. During moments of spring fever attacks, I have watched the birds outside, hard at work on their spring projects. Not only is this amusing; it is also educational. We have a lot to learn from bird behavior.

For example, it is interesting (if you have spring fever) to see birds as a microcosm of our society - or even of the banking world. Consider the birds out there - the roles they play and what they do.

First, there are lots and lots of little brown birds - the kind that only an ornithologist with superb eyesight can tell apart. These birds are busy, quiet, unassuming, almost invisible, and simply go about their business without bothering anyone else. There is lots to be done - millions of seeds to eat - and there are a lot of little brown birds to do the job. They often travel in flocks and respond as a group to directions - such as sudden movement or a loud noise. Like most of the bank's staff, they work diligently and invisibly. It can be difficult to tell one little brown bird from another - or from a leaf, for that matter.

Much less plentiful than the little brown birds are the interesting and more colorful ones. These appear from time to time, eat seeds, socialize a bit, and then head for the next stop. Each variety looks and acts a little different but they are all busy. They each affect activity at the feeding station a little bit differently. They remind me of middle management.

I can't decide whether cardinals or blue jays are the CEO's of the bird world. Both are colorful. Both are stand-outs, in their own way. But cardinals generally seem to get along better with the flock while blue jays are loud and bossy. You choose which one is most like your CEO.

No collection of birds would be complete without the occasional woodpecker. Although colorful and active, the woodpeckers remind me of auditors. They move up and down, over the whole tree - the whole forest, in fact - and check into all parts of the tree. They work alone; and they generally find and take care of problems - like bugs infesting a tree.

Having staffed the bank, there are still a lot of other birds to account for. Crows, for example. Can you imagine the world without crows? Crows often fly in packs, and sometimes alone. They boss everyone around, make a lot of noise and try to chase any competition out of their territory. They consider themselves to be tougher and better than other birds. They never seem to be quiet, but debate the smallest issues loudly and endlessly. They like to argue, and they are quick to go after road-kill. Lawyers!

Like lawyers, crows do have their purposes. They seem to get most excited about chasing away vultures whenever those ugly birds make an appearance. The crows flock together, fly around, make lots of noise, and dive bomb after the vultures. Now, if we consider the vultures to be the predatory lenders and money launderers of the bird world, we should be cheering for the crows - at least when they are chasing away vultures. Which just goes to prove that even lawyers have their good side.

Although crows have to work hard to chase away a vulture, the vultures generally clear out voluntarily when a hawk comes through. Now, without intending any puns about the name of the current Comptroller of the Currency, hawks remind me of regulators. They fly high, clean up problems, intimidate other birds, and generally even up the scales. They are both admirable and fearsome. I can just imagine a hawk writing regulations while sitting in the top of a tree.

When spring hits your area, if it hasn't already, take a moment to watch the world come to life, and put your life into perspective. You never know what you might learn. If nothing else, laugh at the crows!

Copyright © 2000 Compliance Action. Originally appeared in Compliance Action, Vol. 5, No. 2, 3/00