Ah, Raven!

Sunday, March 10, 2019

It’s exciting when our local Ravens emerge, becoming more visible and grabbing attention. These last few days, while outside refilling bird feeders and knocking down icicles, I’ve seen Ravens overhead flying rapidly in pairs or as singles. They’ll become more apparent after summer returns, and especially, when pairs begin teaching their fledglings. The young’uns will attend my horses’ water troughs, drinking from and dunking in eats to soften. Until the young birds are independently capable of catching prey, they’re often left to wait, perched on, or near, my horses’ troughs, while the parents hunt. One of the mature pair stays nearby watching over the youngsters while the other disappears to hunt over larger territory.

Juveniles beside water troughs are wonderful photo ops. In sunlight, Ravens glow majestically, appearing bold and confident. By moving carefully and very slowly, I can get close enough for good pictures. But there’s an invisible line that a watching parent won’t let me cross. In a heartbeat, the birds can be gone, although not too far, so the hunting parent easily finds them.

Ravens, with thousands of sounds are noisy, effective communicators over large distances. Yesterday, atop a tall juniper, a Raven was intent on making sure its mate heard and knew its location. Before each squawk, its body retracted and swelled mightily with air before creating the sounds that elongated and hollowed.

These Ravens, “my locals”, teach that Ravens with young aren’t to be messed with. Some pairs of Red Tailed Hawks reside in this neighborhood and often glide overhead while hunting. Sometimes, directly overhead, Ravens are chasing, threatening, and nearly cornering a terrified Red Tailed Hawk! Yesterday’s Raven, noticing my attentiveness and my pointing camera, paused in its screaming.

After taking several pictures, I began walking down the hill toward my barn. The Raven took off and flew–initially appearing on my right, before arching in a wide swoop to the left and then shifting west and heading away. I watched as the bird too quickly became a moving spot–off seeking prey or to link up with its mate.

Next week, when Central Oregon is supposed to warm up, I’ll be outside and on the lookout, eager to be entertained and enlightened by the Ravens. They’re amazing, intelligent, and always very noisy.

Dear Friends, Keep an eye on the sky, it offers so much to enjoy. Diana