Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Support PBS Shop PBS Search PBS
Get Adobe Flash player
You need Flash Player 9 and javascript enabled to see the content of this site.

Ravens
Introduction

NATURE’s Ravens explores how these all-black creatures acquired their dual and contradictory images — as birds of both life and death.

Long recognized as one of the most intelligent birds, the raven also has a less than savory image throughout history as a scavenger that does not discriminate between humans and animals.

Ingenious and versatile, ravens are members of the crow family, which includes jays and magpies. They are found everywhere in the northern hemisphere and adapt to very different terrain, from deserts to mountains — a feat requiring high intelligence.

They learn to find food even in the harshest conditions, such as the dead of winter in Yellowstone National Park. As scavengers, ravens know how and when to take advantage of other animals to help them cadge a meal they couldn’t otherwise reach. In Yellowstone, bison that don’t survive the harsh winter attract coyotes, whose sharp teeth and strong jaws rip open the tough, frozen hides — making the meat accessible to watchful ravens. They also have been seen following wild wolf packs to a kill; some stories even have ravens flying ahead of the wolves to lead them to prey.

To order a copy of Ravens, please visit the NATURE Shop.

Online content for Ravens was originally published December 2001.

Tags: , , ,

   Print    Email    comments (38)

(15 votes)
Loading ... Loading ...

Comments

38 comments

#1

09/11/2008 :: 10:10:31 AM
anita Says:

when will pbs show the raven special again? i missed it but would like to watch it or purchase it.
peace,

#2

09/16/2008 :: 09:40:52 AM
Scott Says:

To order a copy of Ravens, please visit the NATURE Shop.

#3

10/21/2008 :: 05:55:58 PM
j Says:

this is not all that intrestng

#4

10/30/2008 :: 04:04:18 PM
Val Says:

I have a pet raven….rescued from a nest when his tree was cut down. He can’t fly, tho x-rays show no reason. (Maybe he doesn’t want to.) He can ‘fly’ up to the top of a six foot fence and hops/flaps to get where he wants to go. His behavior is very like the ravens in the program, he caches food, will catch frogs, (eats just about anything) and is an awesome mimic….often sounds like there are people conversing in the barn he lives in. Also barks or whines like our dogs, and has figured out if he makes the ‘going to lay an egg’ noise around our laying hens, they will start laying, at which point he goes down and steals the egg. He seen us use the latch on the door to the goat shed twice, and promptly started unlatching the door and letting the goats out.
We get a huge kick out of him, wish we had a mate for him, as the wild ravens around here seem to know he can’t fly and will ‘dive/attack’ him if he’s out by himself, so we always have to keep an eye out when he’s out in the yard.

#5

12/05/2008 :: 08:49:09 PM
raven Says:

ravens are cool birds

#6

12/07/2008 :: 02:54:40 AM
debbie kelley Says:

I would like to know more about Ravens
I have a lot of them in my yard,and they love dogfood.

#7

12/24/2008 :: 01:17:25 PM
Red Says:

The latest interesting thing I have seen a crow do is hop up and balance repeatedly on an empty water bottle turned on its side in a parking lot. Of course the bottle would roll around, but the crow kept hopping back up on top, messing around for several minutes. A pair of ravens lives near me and they know when I top off my horse water trough. They wait in a nearby tree until I leave and then take a drink and bath, and often leave me some nice food garbage like chicken drumsticks floating inside.

#8

01/12/2009 :: 02:29:22 PM
nick Says:

lets go baltimor ravens forget the regular raven

#9

01/22/2009 :: 11:02:53 PM
Mr.hat Says:

last week there were so many ravens in a tree near my house im talkin like maybe 100 ravens it was kinda creepy

#10

02/04/2009 :: 08:24:31 PM
marcus Says:

a flock of crows is called a . im not sure about ravens though

#11

02/04/2009 :: 08:27:10 PM
marcus Says:

sorry it is called a

#12

02/04/2009 :: 08:29:56 PM
marcus Says:

it wont show the word m u r d e r

#13

02/08/2009 :: 02:40:48 PM
greg Says:

I have a similar situation as Val in #4 comments, he has only been in our backyard 2 days, he won’t fly but we made it possible for him to leave the yard and he did then he returned the next morning. I think he is young because it looks like mom and dad are hanging around trying to get him to fly. I live in Victorville, calif., just in case val #4 lives nearby.

#14

02/11/2009 :: 11:09:30 PM
S. Smith Says:

A group of ravens lives at our school. This a.m. they were alone on the playground in 30 degree weather hopping up and down in unison. It was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen birds do. Is this normal for ravens?

#15

02/15/2009 :: 04:38:55 PM
C. Boyce Says:

I am living in Germany right now and I was wondering if anyone knows where I can see ravens in their natural habit here? I am fascinated by ravens and would like to see then in their natural habitat. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

#16

02/24/2009 :: 01:31:53 AM
M. Kahalewai Says:

i have never met a raven in my life considering i live in hawaii but i had a conversation with a crow once on one of my trips to the mainland. they never leave you alone after that they just want to keep talking to you as if your part of the group.

#17

03/20/2009 :: 04:25:33 PM
Margarert Adams Says:

We have been feeding crows/ravens in various parking lots here in Juneau this winter. There has been so much snow and ice, we think the birds are having trouble finding food. We buy bread to feed them. I know they will eat fish, etc. Are therre any suggestions as to a less expensive food Thanks

#18

03/25/2009 :: 06:45:28 PM
Natalie Fornaris Says:

Do you have any information about the ravens size,

#19

03/25/2009 :: 06:49:01 PM
Natalie Fornaris Says:

I really think ravens are scary because my best Guy friend had one has a pet and the raven started pecking at me which I really don’t like so instead of stay at his house we went and saw a movie. A SCARY ONE!

#20

03/27/2009 :: 11:05:02 PM
Audra Says:

We have beautiful ravens here in Alaska. They’re HUGE.

That’s interesting that we can’t type the word murder on here…

#21

04/13/2009 :: 11:12:39 AM
kevin Says:

Go Baltimore Ravens!!!!!!!!

#22

04/14/2009 :: 12:35:46 AM
Margaret Says:

We have had a nesting pair of ravens return to our yeard for about 10 years. It has been so amzing to see them build their nest in late winter and raise their broods. Something killed one parent this year and the second has apparently abandoned the babies. We listen to them cry for their food. It is so sad. And next year, we probably won’t have any either. I will miss them. Spring won’t be the same

#23

04/21/2009 :: 01:29:27 PM
Cathy Says:

Ravens love dog food. We also put out any mice we catch and they will always take them.

#24

04/23/2009 :: 02:55:00 PM
JM Says:

Rather than talking about how “sad” it is, Margaret, did you consider rescuing the chicks?

#25

04/24/2009 :: 04:11:41 PM
lesli ann Says:

Have a broken winged raven in our yard. He has survived 22 days, foraging dog food, bird seed, and any leftovers we have that the neighbors dogs don’t eat. Today he has graduated to a tree branch. The other day he was treated to a newly dead squirrel. He can run far to fast for any of us to catch. We don’t know if we should capture him and take him to a vet, or let him be. The vet said he would remove the wing. Any suggestions?

#26

04/26/2009 :: 12:43:33 PM
Ravenluver Says:

I agree with Jm you should rescue the birds so that they live. Bring them inside so they are warm and feed them.

#27

04/29/2009 :: 09:51:48 AM
c. swazey Says:

JM, if you are able to rescue the birds, please do. They need a safe haven. Feed them small bugs, ground food of any source and as they get older, they will be able to eat small pieces of left over meat, fruit, even small pieces of pizza. Give them lots of clean water and good luck!

#28

04/30/2009 :: 12:01:28 AM
Margaret Says:

JM, of course we considered trying to rescue them. If we could have saved them, we would have. However, they were about 60 feet up in a fir tree, which is quite unclimbable. We called a local bird rescue, (yes, we have one in our small town of 5,000) but they said there was nothing they could do. We had to go away about 3 days to a wedding. They were quiet when we returned, so we assume dead. It is the way of the wild, but we are still sad. We have seen ravens in the vacinity. We are hoping the surviving parent will remate and bring the new mate back next spring. c swazey, they had already graduated to squirrels, so small bugs wouldn’t fill any bellies. Ravens are a very large bird. The wing we found on the ground, folded as it would be against their body, measured 18 inches.

#29

05/07/2009 :: 12:16:01 PM
judah Says:

hey the raven is the most selfish bird,when die its body doesnt rot wow!

#30

05/07/2009 :: 08:52:40 PM
Margaret Says:

Actually it is drying and just the wing. A birder told me to put it in a place that is either-always cold or always hot. Then it should just dry out.

#31

05/21/2009 :: 12:12:02 AM
Mark Says:

We just found two ravens that fell (presumably)from the nest. I think our dog was onto the chicks so we rescued them and brought them into the garage and put them in a dog kennel. The parents seemed to calm down since we picked them up,but after a few hours, they haven’t eaten. I hope I did the right thing by picking them up.

#32

05/31/2009 :: 07:59:32 AM
Margaret Says:

How are they doing? Someone said dogfood might work. I know they eat raw meat in the wild.

#33

06/06/2009 :: 09:26:14 PM
Pablo Says:

I have had many exotic animals in my time,reptiles and large birds. I watched two Ravins build a nest this last winter. I should say they watched me watch them build a nest in a cell phone tower. I looked up at them nesting, and thought it would be nice to care and raise a ravin. Well it was tim to fly and one of the three landed fairly close to me. I’ve let it go three times. Each time it stays airborn longer and longer. The parents are trying to help it when it’s out, and maintain contact. she is very healthy. Their is more to this story if anyone is interested let me know. Thanks.

#34

06/07/2009 :: 08:45:13 AM
Margaret Says:

Pablo, please continue with your story. I would love to hear it.

#35

06/07/2009 :: 04:14:08 PM
Pablo Says:

Yesterday I changed her(kahlua)squair pole for a round one she jumped on it before I had it all the way in, she likes it. Also I put a stainless steel water bowl in her cage, and she jumped in before I closed the door! I had Kahlua out today Her mom and dad did a fly-by and they exchanged hello’s. She has a very healthy appitite. loves Tomatos, red bell pepers, caned dog food, lettuce, macarony and swiss cheese, She really loves small slices of raw beef, when I give her that she squaks and opens her mouth. I also balled up small pieces of bread then poored some caned milk on them she ate that also. Every time I see her I say hello, and i think she is starting to say hello! She is at least speeking to me a lot differantly than mom and dad. One evening when the chicks were small, or perhaps not even born yet mom and dad landed on the edge of the building accross the street from me. I was lucky enough to take some pictures of them grooming each other, with the sun setting it was like two beautifull sillowets in motion. Well tomarrow is another realease day. When her family returns from their morning hunt about ten a.m. I’LL put her in back of the truck and open the door to the cage and hope she can fly up to here home.

#36

06/08/2009 :: 10:52:33 AM
Pablo Says:

Last night I was changing the water as I reached for kahlua’s water bowl that she was standing next to she hoped on my hand and wrist. She started up my arm a little and look at me. I shrugged her off, When I returned she did it again. She knows that my arm is attached to my body and thats the way out. I think she is ready to joing her family. So far one has returned from the morning hunt, and they have begun to comunicate. I here her starting to talk more. Be right back. Yea three are up their. It’s time to release her I’ll let you know.

#37

06/09/2009 :: 01:48:05 PM
Pable Says:

Released her yesterday. She made it up to the nest. Mom and Dad seemed real happy to see her.

#38

06/09/2009 :: 11:52:23 PM
Susan Says:

Lesli Ann, if you still have your raven, don’t remove the wing! I’ve had one 4yrs. w/broken wing & leg and he hops around and has been able to fly 6-8ft. into the air. He was hit by car, & never thought he’d make it! They are remarkable creatures. just feed small dog food, hamburger, grapes, raisins, scrambled eggs etc. You won’t be sorry, they are beautiful!!

Post A Comment




Your Privacy Matters
Please note that the Thirteen/WNET editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness. No solicitations or advertisements will be allowed. Users may link to other Web sites relevant to discussion, but most often links to commercial Web sites will not be permitted.

Submit

Produced by THIRTEEN WNET New York    ©2009 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.

Major corporate support for Nature is provided by SC Johnson, Canon, CPB.