Ravens in Winter
Contributed by Nancy Wade
You don’t own a pair of binoculars, and you choose to not hang bird feeders, so how can you enjoy birds in the winter? Just watch the clever, rambunctious, noisy, acrobatic jet black Common Ravens who share our neighborhoods!
Until you spend a little time watching them, you cannot appreciate how fascinating these birds are. Among all the birds that spend the winter with us, the raven is arguably the best adapted to humans and their developments.
Last winter I watched a group of ravens sliding down a hill. Each bird would lie down on top of the snowy slope and roll down. Upon reaching the bottom it would shake off and fly back to the top. Several birds at a time were engaging in this obvious play. I have watched young ravens learning to fly, engaging in a game of follow the leader, all the while being coached by parents out of sight, but not out of earshot. Young birds have been observed gathering sticks, dropping them while in flight, then diving down to catch them in mid-air.
Ravens are the largest member of the Corvid family, which also includes crows, jays and magpies. Corvids are recognized as some of the most intelligent birds. Ravens have been known to mimic other birds, and even human sounds. They have one of the most varied repertoires of natural sounds of any bird, including croaks, clacks, grunts, clicks, caws and whistles. Researchers working with ravens have found that they recognize individual humans, can open doors and use reasoning to solve problems. Their intellect and creativity have caused problems for humans when the birds open tents and steal the contents, peck at airplane wings, and tear at building insulation.
There are 2 species of ravens in North America; the Common Raven is found in most of the United States and Canada, and the Chihuahuan Raven in southern deserts. Both are large black birds with heavy serrated bills and wedge-shaped tails. When compared side by side, the Chihuahuan Raven is slightly smaller and may sport a tuft of white feathering at the neck. In areas where ravens and crows coexist, compare the raven as noticeably larger, with a wedge-shaped tail (crows' tails are square) and a more varied vocal repertoire (crows generally just caw).
Ravens are found throughout all of Alaska, from damp coastal areas to the cold dry interior. They have even been seen at the top of Mt. McKinley. They are the only bird regularly seen in winter around inhabited areas along the northern coast.
It is easy to watch these interesting birds and appreciate their intelligence. Notice how they communicate to each other, repeating sounds. When two ravens meet on a perch they will often touch bills in greeting. In flight they are extremely agile, frequently flying upside down and performing aerial displays with other ravens. In town, notice how they navigate through parking lots and around other human disturbances. Watch their distinctive skip-hop and strutting walk, interspersed with short agile flights.
Ravens have uniquely adapted to living among humans, possibly more so than any other wild bird. One of the easiest places to see large numbers of Ravens is at the local dump or garbage containers. They are known for their relationship to humans, following wagons, hunting parties and settlements looking for an easy meal. Hunters report that ravens will respond to a gunshot, and once food is found will loudly call to inform all the locals of the feast. Other equally loud sounds are ignored if there is no promise of dinner.
They can and will eat almost anything: berries, carrion, mice, insects, and of course, our garbage. In the spring and summer, Ravens will prey on eggs and chicks when the opportunity presents itself. In some areas the abundance of Ravens has caused the reduction in numbers of some threatened species, where the eggs and young are vulnerable.
Ravens roost in the hills for the night, in huge groups filling trees and rock bluffs. At dawn they fly down to the populated areas for their daily feast and play time. Notice how they seem to head directly for garbage bins behind stores, fast food parking lots and the perches above these favorite grazing grounds. Mid to late afternoon they will once more head to the hills for the night.
Ravens have a place in history and literature, being the nemesis bird of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, The Raven. Legend has it that if the resident ravens at the Tower of London ever depart, the British Empire will fall. Thus, the birds are protected and fed there. Natives of the Pacific Northwest consider the Raven to be a trickster, and yet he is revered as a clan symbol.
In the dark and snowy winter, Common Ravens are one of the bright spots, if you take the time to enjoy them.
The Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center participates in the rescue and rehabilitation of up to 25 Ravens a year. If you find any injured birds, please contact us at 907-892-2927. Due to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, we are temporarily unable to care for injured birds on site but can assist with information on where they can go for treatment.
www.akwildbird.org