The Raven family

Ravens in the tree top

Roughly two years ago I wrote a post about the Raven's nesting very near my home and their four offspring, they had four more offspring last year and I know they are nesting again right now because I have seen both parents collecting nesting materials.  A few weeks ago, I saw the Raven pair in flight with all eight of their offspring.  I recognized the first four only because one of these birds was, and still is so endearingly clumsy.  I didn't get much of a chance to observe the second set of offspring last year, so I know very little about them, aside from the fact that they were occasionally babysat by the older four siblings.  Are you confused yet?

While the parents are busy reconstructing their nest, their eight offspring can occasionally be observed socializing or playing together on the wind, most especially at dawn or dusk.  This past week I watched the oldest four play in the little forest for quite some time.  Aside from the clumsy Raven, one of the other Raven youngsters has a very deep, distinct voice, while the third is very curious, and the fourth somewhat nervous.

Clumsy Raven almost missed the mark

Struggling to right himself

They seemed to enjoy the snow fall and really love the gusting wind.  Apparently they also, enjoy a game of chase the tail of a Magpie occasionally, or playing tag with Blue Jays:) 

Curious Raven-wondering what I'm doing

Nervous Raven takes off at the slightest sound

Two of these older offspring even played at house a little last summer, when they practiced building a nest and protecting territory.

Magpie visits Raven

Raven's playmates

I only wish I could capture a photo of all four of these Ravens together.  I have been watching this Raven family for almost six years now, beginning with the parents when they first paired off.  Many people don't like Ravens, but I find that they are intelligent, playful, curious and quite charming, and I know that they recognize me when they see me. I have seen a Raven pair teach their young how to ride the currents of the wind, I have seen them feed and comfort their young.  I have seen them protecting their young by engaging Hawks and Eagles in the sky above their nests.  How could I not love these birds?

Enjoy,
Susan

Juvenile Ravens

Juvenile Ravens on the roof tops

As expected, since the Ravens were nesting in February, their young have fledged way ahead of most other bird species.  There are five of them.  For a couple of weeks now they have made their presence known in the neighborhood with their loud calls.   They seem to be practicing their flying and landing skills, as I see them diving, swooping and climbing in the sky all over the neighborhood.   One of them is even a bit clumsy, which is actually quite endearing.

Juvenile Raven

Ravens are very intelligent and as I learned from both my research and through observation, their young engage in active play.  This takes the form of chase games with each other, as well as other birds, and has the added bonus of turning them into excellent fliers.   When I was watching them, it was almost as if they were encouraging each other to try landings and take offs from trees and other high places, such as a church tower, and hoping from one roof top to the next in my complex.

Preening

In Flight

The parents, who are very caring and protective, check up on them regularly.  In the picture directly below you can see some of them in a family huddle with one of the parents.  I have observed this behavior several times now.

Joyous greeting of parent

The parents also seem always to be close by.  When the juveniles are giving off distress calls, the parents swoop in almost immediately.  The first time that I saw the juveniles, they were being mobbed by crows.  The crows however didn't stick around for long once the parents arrived on scene, as Raven parents are very aggressive in their defense of the juveniles.   They will engage any threat to their young with aggression, as I have even observed the Ravens chasing and harassing an Eagle, until it was well away from their nest site.

Juvenile Raven taking off

Juvenile Ravens will stay with or near their parents for six months after they fledge.  They also stay in a group,  while the parents are elsewhere.  As far as I know this is the only bird species to do so.  Although the juvenile Ravens are anything but quiet when they play, I quite enjoy watching their antics.


Enjoy,
Susan

Raven love : the intelligence of spring fever

Raven's flight silhouette

Several weeks ago I saw a Raven pair in mating flight.  It was minus thirty five degrees outside at the time; very typical February weather for us here in Alberta.   At first I thought perhaps I mistook what I saw.   After all spring, when the weather is warming and things are re-awakening to life, is the season for mating and nesting, as we all know.   But then a little more than a week ago, I saw these same Raven's carrying nesting materials back and forth between the little forest to the west of my house, and their nesting site somewhere to the east, confirming what I had seen.