Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 26, 1946

A fine afternoon – the spot had all the wildness and remoteness that the music of Sibelius evokes for me. Once a large flock of crows, with a great alarm and clatter, entered the woods and settled on a tree not far away. There was a savagery about their angry cawing, as they settled into the tree, that was very thrilling, even spine chilling – stepping back once to survey my work, I chanced to step on a stick, and at once the crows became alarmed, and took flight again with a tremendous noise. 
Charles E. Burchfield, March 26, 1946