The Raven (Sand Point, Eagle: food, areas, island)

[lower48]

What can anyone tell me about the status of the raven today?

[WillowRaven]

Okay splain this one to me lol I am going to be the ULTIMATE Newbie to Alaska I have her about "The Raven" but have no clue what it's about...SPLAIN LUCY !!! lol Thanks

Losing Myself (Ash)

338/244 -94lbs 4.5 Months Post-Op
removed

[itdincor]

In the 20th Century, Raven's population declined in the Eastern USA. I understand that, in general, the population there has recovered to some degree, and that in the huge unpopulated areas of the West, they are common.

Whilst I cannot comment on other parts of the state (or the USA, really), here in the Shumagin Islands, we have LOTS of Ravens. They are wonderful and handsome birds, to which I feed dog food during the worst months of winter, when life gets pretty tough.

Their behavior is truly interesting. For example, just yesterday I saw them playing in the snow. One propelled itself along the ground with its feet,like a penguin; another slid down a snowy slope as does an otter with a mudslide; another simply rolled down the slope. They were just playing and actually, to all appearances, having fun. Their early spring mating flights are simply astonishing.

Also, not a week ago, I witnessed an example of avian philanthropy, or charity. One Raven was, after I'd spread some dog food, just standing about, doing nothing. Then, another came and from its throat pouch dropped 10-15 dog food pellets in front of the first, which then ate them. I was really quite surprised, not expecting such behavior from what is, for all practical purposes, a present-day descendant of dinosaurs, if not indeed an actual, developed dinosaur.

They're fascinating birds, obviously quite intelligent, and have come to almost - not quite - trust me. So soon as I walk out the door and shout "ka-ka-ka-ka", all the birds down at the plant and harbor take off and come straight for me, some flying so close I can feel their wings' air, and landing very nearly within arm's reach.

I like that.

Anyway, lots of them out here, and I'd wager them common all through the state.

Ken Johnson
Sand Point

[Vancefish]

I'm in Colorado. Here we have a few Ravens. However they also have competition for food with a close relative, The Magpie. When I was a child the Magpies were everywhere and I'd never really seen a Raven. Today I see both, But the Ravens outnumber the Magpies. Ravens being larger tend to chase off the Magpies as well. Both were, or are, on the endagered list for many years. Now the Magpie seems to be less common, and we may have some crossbreeding.
I attached a local photo with a magpie to the top left, a small Raven or Crow(I can't tell) in the middle, and what they are calling a Pied Crow on the right. You can see the Magpie on the upper left has a long tail.

[Kingsnkali]

Ravens occur in the Tlingit, Haida and Eyak Alaska native peoples clan system. Eagles as well.

[warptman]

Crows are a lot smaller than ravens.

[barnacle9]

To many natives the Raven is a sacred bird and very wise, and I can verify that it is very plentiful in Prince William Sound.

[forgetwho]

If you haven't already, check out Ravens in Winter, a wonderful book written by Bernd Heinrich in the 1980s about raven behavior. I just read this book a few months ago. (And I see that Heinrich has a newer book out called Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds, published in paperback just this past May. I haven't read that one yet.)

[Xa'at]

Ravens are everywhere, and so huge that you sometimes worry they may carry off small children...