A crab-apple tree we planted several years ago suddenly became prolific this year with abundant fruit irresistible to the local bird population. Robins temporarily became vegetarians, crows complained loudly as they bobbed on the bendy branches, cardinals and squirrels visited surreptitiously. At the peak of apple ripeness a gang of starlings swarmed in and cleaned out every last apple in two days. At the height of the frenzied feeding Lori grew annoyed at the ruckus, yelling at the birds to knock it off. They did not. A day later it was suddenly over. Peace again reigns with the crab-apple tree seeming to sigh with contentment at a highly successful spreading of seeds by the unruly mob. It is now closed for the season.