Comments on: Introduction

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:43:27 +0000

i’m suprised no one here mentions that it is totally illegal to keep a native crow or raven in the united states. alot of times the licensed bird rehab centers will just euthanize a permanently disabled raven or crow, so i am glad there are people giving sanctuary to these animals, but be very careful about casually announcing this to strangers on the internet! unless you want your bird taken from you and to be fined thousands of dollars…often when they confiscate the birds from outlaw rehabbers, they euthanize the animal…so please….be careful!!!!! and educate yourselves on the proper nutrition, and the laws as well….a good cat formula is a solid way to be sure your bird gets everything it needs…then lots of raw meat, eggs, and any fruits/vegetables he will take…in my experience most of the fruits and veggies are neglected, but good luck….also a calcium supplement is pretty crucial….
blessings corvid lovers ;)

By: Frank Fencer

Frank Fencer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:55:04 +0000

Great story senioirmaster, I love to hear how ravens react with and to birds of prey. This year I was watching three chicks play not more than 5 feet from me when a peregrine attacked one of the chicks. The 2 fought it out in the air, with the baby raven doing lots of screaming. He seemed unharmed but as the falcon left the 2 adults came and drove it out of their area. They looked like WWI biplanes in combat. It was great!

By: seniormaster

seniormaster — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:22 +0000

I was camping near furnace creek in Dearh Valley the first part of October. I had been told that a peregrine falcon had moved into the area and was terrorizing the local bird population. The following day while walking through the campground I saw the falcon (actually a prairie falcon as opposed to a peregrine) flying slowly at about 100 feet, obviously hunting. I had been watching him for a few moments when a very large raven flew into my field of vision and struck the falcon a glancing blow from behind (”blindsided” him), tumbling him in the air. The falcon fled immediately to the nearest tree making distress calls all the way, while the raven flew on as though nothing had happened. While we have ravens around our home in central Nevada, and I’ve always known them to be large, aggressive and sometimes combative birds who love to dive on my dogs, this behavior surprised me completely. I’ve never seen anything like it. The raven appeared to be establishing a campground “pecking order” as opposed to actually trying to down the falcon, but who’s to say what his intentions really were. I know this…any bird that would attack a prairie falcon which is every bit as large and aggressive as a peregrine has my respect.

By: Frank Fencer

Frank Fencer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:10:07 +0000

Raven 3lbs / Crow 1 to 2 lbs. Raven Diamond or wedge tail / Crow tail “cut off” look. Raven “Roman nose” with top of bill curved / Crow top and bottom of bill closer to the same size. Ravens gather but more often found in pairs / Crows more “gang” oriented. Ravens more in countryside / Crows more city. Ravens lean forward when they “roc” / Crows rock up and down when they CAW! Raven makes a softer sound / Crow sound seem harsher to me. Does this help?

By: Gail Grabowski

Gail Grabowski — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:59:11 +0000

Thank you Frank I see so many large black birds that (kaw) I always wonder is it a crow or a raven. Is their anything in their looks to identify them? Terry maybe Frank might help us out.

By: Frank Fencer

Frank Fencer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:07:04 +0000

The some of the differences between ravens and crows; size, beak, tail, nesting areas, but more than anything is the difference in how they live and how they react to other animals. Ravens tend to be more like country folk with lots of time and room, they really seem to have fun! Crows are like ravens raised on coffee; nervous, jumpy and too wired to have fun!

By: steve

steve — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:47:34 +0000

a flock of ravens is called an unkindness–is that correct??

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:59:35 +0000

Good question Gail. I also would like to know the differance between a Raven and a Crow?

By: Frank Fencer

Frank Fencer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:19:56 +0000

I came to order the “Ravens” DVD (cause I still have the VHS) but while I’m here I’d like to add what a great job PBS did on “Ravens” and after reading some of the posts (like the preacher above) perhaps to suggest to those who like raven stories check out Bob, Huey & Me (the PDF is free at http://www.theravendiaries.com)

By: richard

richard — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:56:35 +0000

what do you call a group or flock of ravens [crows are a 'murder' of crows]