Creek Running North

Absolutely gorgeous, Chris.
I saw my first ravens in South Fork, CO this summer - and then, to my utter surprise, saw some in Austin TX right before I moved to San Antonio. I’ve never seen ravens in TX, where I’ve lived my whole life (though I don’t get outside of cities much, unfortunately). I took the four of them as an omen, as they headed off NE. Perhaps I’m meant for CO and not SA, who knows?

Thank you.

Mmm, beautiful. I love ravens. Thank you.

Yes, thank you for this, Chris. Love her.

And I could just eat the word ‘imbricated.’

And I could just eat the word ‘imbricated.’

Don’t do it, Tmorph. You’ll get shingles.

Yeah, I love ravens too…
Except for this.
Photographic evidence.
And one for Chris.

Yes, Sven, that is disturbing, and I address it some here. And I wholeheartedly support efforts to mitigate the problem through population control by trained wildlife managers, assuming the existence of marksmanship training so that culling can be done with minimal suffering involved.

I know that sounds harsh, but there are WAY too many real estate developers in the desert, and their work means more trash to attract ravens which then eat baby tortoises. It really is time we started to reduce the number of developers at large in the desert, and aggressively.

It really is time we started to reduce the number of developers at large in the desert, and aggressively

I was always taught by my elders that the presence of many ravens and crows in a particular ‘place’ was the sign for too many two-leggeds.  The increase we see in their numbers reveals the collapse of a once diverse, vibrant, and complex ecosystem.  As Chris points out, the signs are everywhere, especially in Arizona and the southeastern CA regions.

I completely agree. Naturally I don’t blame the ravens--I’m much too misanthropic for that.
And, I really do like ravens--enough to consent to my daughter’s mom naming her Raven!

Don’t do it, Tmorph. You’ll get shingles.

Damn, is THAT how it happened? I thought it was his fault.

I like all the corvids.

My friend Carl says of blue jays: “They can make the most innocent act look like the commission of a felony.” Whereas other birds seem to put some effort into careful landings, blue jays just bomb down to the ground like kamikaze pilots. But they always seem to land perfectly anyway.

Stellar’s Jay: I love their powder blue-shading-to-black coloration, and even like the echo of their raucous cries.

Clark’s Nutcracker: When you see ‘em, you know you’ve made it to someplace special. Always a welcome sight.

There’s been a dustup here in upstate New York several times in recent years: Crows will congregate in the thousands on certain trees and lawns, and invariably The Stupids decide there’s something disturbing in it, and call Animal Control to work on scaring them away. I remember one person being quoted (read the following in an abrasive whine) “I just think they’re so creepy.” Argh. Eye roll, deep sigh, muttered “Too much late-night television.”

To me it always looks like a party. Crows walking around on the lawn, relaxed, just socializing, enjoying each other’s company.

And ravens ... ahhh. I’ve told this story many times over the years, and have probably told it here, but ...

There’s a water tank halfway up the Sherwin Grade on Hwy 395 just north of Bishop. Sherwin Grade is a nine-mile-long unrelenting uphill, and in the summer, lots of cars overheat. Cal-Trans has put a big tank there so drivers can pull over, pop their hoods, open their radiator caps and scald themselves to death, but then at least get more water for the radiator.

I was driving past one hot summer day, and saw two ravens busy at the spout end of that tank. One was balancing on the spout handle, flapping for balance and pressing it down, the other was crouched in the outflowing spray of water, fluttering and preening. I drove on past, grinning. I do hope they were doing it deliberately, and I hope they traded off later.

... And there should be at least one great song that uses the phrase “Corvus corax.”

“Corvus corax, mud in your eye ...”

Or maybe it’s a good name for a villain in a Bond movie, or possibly his boat.

Bond: “They made their getaway on a racing hydrofoil. But bystanders caught a glimpse of the name. It was the Corvus Corax.”

M nods knowingly. “Precisely. We’re dealing with the international bread thief known as Raven.”

Okay, maybe it’s more of a Kim Possible plot.

...

And Chris ... wasn’t it you who said he hated people who misused ellipses? Ouch. But then they’re so GOOD for representing pauses in speech.

... Of which I have many.

By the way, about the marksmanship of California wildlife managers: Some years ago the perennially beleaguered Least Tern colony on Venice Beach was being decimated (sensu novo, i.e. way more than 10%) by a flock of egg-eating crows. The problem was solved by shooting only 4 crows and then leaving their carcasses splayed out at the 4 corners of the fenced nesting area. Point is, the guy from Animal Damage Control who came down to do the shooting was an almost unbelievably good shot.

I love ravens and it’s nice to know that someone else has eyes for their armor. Living in the urban wilderness, we don’t get songbirds, just these beauties.

I was trying to remember the name of this film right after Chris posted this thread, but just couldn’t place it.  Finally dug through my files and found the University and College study guide for it (a pdf well worth downloading) and therefore i offer this film and website on the struggle to control and restrict urban growth in the Sonoran Desert. Really powerful and provocative.  If you do download the study guide, review the questions and your possible responses before you view the film.  We sometimes are too casual with our suggestions on what needs to be changed, especially when we ourselves think we don’t have to do so.