Regarding Ravens

[Kalinychta]

Quoth the raven, Nevermore.

 

[Forest Cat]

What we call a magpie here is an entirely different species but also very special. Ours are actually black and white crows, the same size as a crow, not a small bird.

This one is a baby fresh out of the nest:

View attachment 96372

I think it's the same here, black and white birds, roughly the same size as crows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_magpie

 

[Raggamuffin]

I saw ravens a few times last year. They're cool.

Ed

 

[Raggamuffin]

In the north of Australia the crows have developed white or pale blue eyes, I think in response to the overly bright sunshine. In the south of the country their eyes are black like in the rest of the world.

View attachment 96371

Jackdaws have light eyes:

We get them a lot around here. In fact there's a fair few of them nesting near our house.

Ed

 

[Outdated]

 

[Rodafina]

^ So much suspense in the build up!

Can’t believe how many times he came back in swooping.

 

[Ken]

You must remember our Magpies from your time here, they're also a member of the same family. Highly intelligent, beautiful song voice. They can also mimic human speech. They have excellent facial recognition which is important to remember during nesting time, then they become quite aggressive and will attack people they don't know and people that they do know but don't like.

View attachment 96370

I love this video:

 

[Streetwise]

 

[stevens]

I love the grifters. For the past year, there has been a pair that picks up a hardboiled egg from my yard at 30 minutes after sunrise, without fail. The life of a raven is ordered, and highly calculated.

 

[Nitro]

An image of a murder:

 

[Ken]

An image of a murder:
View attachment 97145

Actually, an image of mass murder.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Tricks for not getting swooped at:

Be a friend. You don't have to feed them all the time or anything, throw them a couple of scraps just once and the whole family will remember you, especially if you throw scraps to the babies. (they eat meat)

Don't wear a hat. Many animals including many human babies get stressed by hats for some reason. Lots more people have been getting seriously attacked since bicycle helmets have become compulsory.

Put highly reflective sunglasses on the back of your head. Magpies attack in pairs, one will hover in front of you to attract your attention while the other hits you in the back of the head. If there's another set of "eyes" on the back of your head it confuses them.

There was a native marsh near the biology building at college. We were told to wear hats when passing nearby because the red-winged blackbirds would peck at the hats instead of our heads.

I see ravens when canoeing in Canada or northern US. The nest on cliffs and soar on the winds. Their voices a deep croaks.

 

[AdamG]

 

[Forest Cat]

View attachment 108643

Is that Huginn and Muninn, Odins ravens?

 

[AdamG]

Is that Huginn and Muninn, Odins ravens?

Yes, it is they

 

[Shevek]

There are many corvids around here. The Crows drive off any Owls in their preferred territory. A pretty smart dog I know won't tolerate a Raven nearby, but will share a bone with a Magpie. The Magpies are unusual in roofing over their nests to keep the chicks dry, but mortality is high as they fledge. They cannibalize their weaker siblings. It was fun watching the local cat act all innocent as she left after being spotted and scolded by several young Magpies.