Still no local crow fledglings but today’s big surprise was — a baby raven!
The high, slightly panicked calls were the first clues that we had a young raven in the ‘hood. Seeing the pink beak and grey eyes once I got closer were clinchers — a youngster just a few weeks out of the nest and out exploring alone.
The local crows were, predictably, unwelcoming.
As mentioned in the new Crow/Raven calendar the two species are related, but not on friendly terms. Since adult ravens will steal crow eggs and prey on crow fledglings, it’s hardly surprising that all ravens are personae non-gratae in crow territory.
While the mobbing was understandable, I did feel sorry for the fledgling who hadn’t yet developed the typical adult raven insouciance in the face of a crow onslaught.
No raven parents were coming to the rescue and I was racking my brains for ways to single-handedly distract a murder of crows when the youngster finally flew off to the west.
Once back with the parents, this one may think twice about solo adventures for a while — at least until completing that essential raven learning module: How To Act Cool When Being Mobbed By Crows.
SHOP CALENDAR>
__________________________________________________________________________________________
© junehunterimages, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to junehunterimages with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
In the winter, when food is scarce, juvenile crows and ravens will hang out in my garden together and take turns getting handouts.
As a long time crow lover and watcher, for the first time recently I witnessed a parent crow feed its fledgling! I threw out a few raw pecans and the mother ate them and the begging youngster was rewarded with a few tidbits! It was so fun to watch!
How do you tell a crow from a raven?
That’s a question I’m often asked, so my 2025 Calendar will be all about telling the two birds apart (available on my website: junehunter.com) and I also have a blog post all about the differences: https://urbannature.blog/2023/10/28/telling-crows-and-ravens-apart/