Every time I see ravens they tell me at least one more new and amazing thing about themselves.

On our most recent trip up to the local mountain, I learned TWO new new things!

1. How To Attract A Raven’s Attention

This was my most dramatic discovery.

(For those days when my amateur raven calling doesn’t do the trick.)

I can’t really recommend this method, as I’m still recovering from it several days later.

It involves slipping on the ice, becoming momentarily airborne and landing in a heap, belongings haphazardly strewn around you.

I was in the air long enough to make the photographer’s eternal plea to the universe, “Please don’t let the camera break!”

Having landed (ouch) and ascertained that the camera was still in my hands and in one piece, the next thing I noticed was a raven standing over me.

I’d like to think that the raven was concerned but, more likely, was on the look out for snack opportunities.

I’m not sure I looked sufficiently injured to be potential carrion — but my scattered belonging probably looked somewhat promising.

Anyway, what better way to test the mechanics of the camera than to snap a few photos from my prone position?

We were still in the parking lot when I fell, and Phillip was at the far side, looking at the cloudy sunrise. By the time he noticed I was down, I was snapping pictures, so he thought I might just be after some new dramatic angle. He is used to some odd behaviour.

Meanwhile: what’s better than a raven? Two ravens, obviously.

The first raven’s mate flew in to help monitor the situation.

They must have quickly assessed the boring nature of the dropped items — mitts, woollen hat, the spikes that I SHOULD have been wearing on my feet — and, no longer interested in the dull human drama, started having a little domestic chat.

So, next thing you know, I’m filming crows from my new “downward photographer” pose.

And we weren’t even out of the parking lot yet! Luckily I was relatively unscathed and we went on to have a lovely walk, with snow (at last!) and a bit of sun, lots of clouds, and more ravens.

Here’s an abridged version of the day …

We saw wind-and-snow-sculpted trees, Steller’s jays, and lots more ravens — so (apart from the ice fall) — a perfect day.

2. A Raven Can Sound Like A Pinball Wizard

This was the second new thing I learned on this particular trip. It happened right at the end of the day as snow had started to fall and we were loading Geordie back in car to head home.

I think this was one of the ravens from the morning and he or she came to see us off. We were right on the road, so there’s a bit of traffic noise, but you can still hear this strange call; a new one for me — a combination of beak snapping and video arcade-type sounds.

A pinball wizard in a blizzard!

 

Every encounter with a raven or ravens is a voyage of discovery!

 

You may also enjoy:

• Ravenspeak (Nov 2023)
• Tell Crows and Ravens Apart (Oct 2023)
• When the Rave Knocks (Feb 2023)
• Raven Romance (Feb 2023)
• Learning to Speak Raven (March 2018)
• Raven Tutor (March 2018)

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