I must confess, I’ve been “hoarding” these ravens since mid-March, working on prints of them as a consolation prize for not being able to get up to the mountains more than twice this winter.
It already seems like another lifetime when I took these photos in late February and mid-March — in the all too brief period between the “fractured foot” and “everything in the world has changed” eras.
On the first trip, it was sunny and lovely, and we saw a few ravens.
The most interesting raven moment that day was when we heard what sounded like a chipmunk being strangled in the shadow of a big tree …
… and it turned out to be this raven noisily bringing up a pellet.
The second trip, just before the mountain trails were closed to the public, was mid-March. That precious day provided a small conspiracy of ravens and lovely soft light for photographing them.
If it had to be my last day of the winter to see them, it was a good one.
I should put in a special thanks here to my family who were on the trip and who waited, more or less patiently, while I was taking these photos and perhaps a few more.
While I do love my local crows, ravens are somehow a special treat. Even if I can’t see them for weeks at a time, I find the simple idea of their existence to be therapeutic.
When I couldn’t get up to the mountains for the early part of the winter, I watched this video of ravens playing with snowballs over and over again to tide me over. It seemed to speak to many people. I think it’s the most popular video I ever posted on my Twitter account, shared thousands of times.
I imagine they’re up there now, joyfully living their raven lives, with only trees and the skyline reflected in their all-seeing eyes. I’m sure they don’t miss the human company — except, perhaps their ill-guarded and easy to purloin lunches.
You can find some of these images and others now available as prints in my shop.
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What a delightful post to read this quiet Easter Sunday. Thank you for your words and your photos.
Penny
Wow, thank you June! So ravens don’t always practice social distancing? Are they more social at some times than others?
Hi Theresa — they usually have their own territories but some areas are more social. I’ve noticed at ski hill parking lots, for example, there are so many good pickings that many ravens seem to share the bounty for at least part of the day. The ravens in this blog were at the foot of a ski hill, although the ski hill was already closed so not many people around.
so magnificent!
I know what you mean, June- somehow to know that Ravens part of our world is strangely therapeutic. Thanks for the amazing photos. Happy Easter.
i blew up the 2 closeup pictures of the ravens. In the middle of the eye. It looks like a person. Was that you taking the picture?
Yes — that’s me. 😊
I heard the strangest sound in my neighbours tree, like a cough or sputter and I realized this black bird was upchucking like a cat with a fur ball. I’m not sure if it was a raven or a crow, but it was not cawing, and I have never seen a crow do this (but perhaps they do). Love your blog. Get so much happiness from your writing and photos.
Beautiful images
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