The Raven: A Most Illustrious Bird
Posted: Friday, May 20, 2011
by Jack H. Schick
I had an unsettling dream, one that truly startled me. It was a warm, sunny morning. I was sleeping in the front bedroom of my cottage in the foothills on the edge of the Mojave Desert. I woke up at my habitual time, took a quick glance to appreciate the brilliant red sunrise for a few seconds but managed to go back to sleep. I seldom remember my dreams anymore except, occasionally, the ones I have during that fallen-back-to-sleep time when I am only partly in this world and partly in the surreal one of semi-conscious slumber. The dream was exquisitely intense. I had not experienced a funk and paranoia quite as disturbing in a long time. I woke from it confused and frightened.
As I lay there on the bed, poised between two divergent levels of consciousness encouraging my dreamy befuddlement to fade, I heard the voice again. I raised my hand from my side and held it in front of my face. I saw the pulsing blue veins and the familiar scars. I was awake. I knew I was awake. The voice was real. It came from somewhere outside. A different kind a fear swelled up in me, a kind I could respond to, could overcome with my intellect. I hopped up, ran to the front door and burst out onto the porch. There was no one there. It was a bright, beautiful day. Song birds flittered about the feeder, chattered and pecked. A covey of quail scuttled up the dirt lane when they saw me. A jack rabbit sat near the neighbors shed, ears up, alert; but, there was nothing else, no voice, no hooded man.
Suddenly, I heard it again. It startled me even worse this time. It was loud and close. A chill tickled my cheek as the ethereal sensations returned. It sounded more like a death rattle than a human voice. I cautiously stepped off the porch; then saw it. High in the Joshua Tree nearest my bedroom window sat a huge raven. He stared down at me with his gleaming dark eyes. Sunlight sparkled off his menacing black beak. He considered me for a moment then puffed up the shaggy feathers on his neck stretched out his long ebony wings and lifted off with several powerful strokes. He flapped and glided, gracefully spiraled upward and soared until a decision was made. He grew smaller and smaller as he flapped off across the desert toward the rim rock outcroppings where I knew there were nests. My uneasiness faded. I smiled as I watched the impressive, illustrious bird fly home.
Ravens (Corvus corax), are passerines (perching birds), that have coexisted with man for many thousands of years. They are one of the largest and the most wide spread of the corvids (crow family). Their range covers the entire northern hemisphere from the artic through the temperate zones. Though there is little difference in appearance, there are at least eight sub-species that display significant genetic variations. They are very opportunistic animals that are so successful and numerous that, in some areas, they are considered pests. Juvenile ravens flock, but adult birds mate for life and live and travel in pairs. They are omnivores whose diet includes carrion, human waste, insects, cereal grains, fruit and small animals. They display a high level of intelligence and have a well developed language.
Men have considered the raven a significant, often suspicious bird since before the dawn of civilization. The name raven is derived from the ancient Proto-German word Khrabanas which was prostituted to hraefn in Old English, hrafn in Old Norse and Raban in Old German. Groups of the birds, now commonly called flocks, were referred to as “an unkindness” or “a conspiracy” of ravens, hinting of the opinion on them. The raven has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature in many cultures, in some cases being revered as a spiritual figure or a god.
Though there are slight variations in size and a minimal variation in color, all ravens look pretty much the same. They have iridescent black plumage with a blue tinge. They have dark brown almost black eyes, a black bill and fluffy feathers on their neck and upper chest. The various sub-species range in length from about 22 inches to 30 inches. Mountain, woodland and cold region birds tend to be larger than those in warmer climates. Their wing span is 40 to 60 inches. Ravens weigh from 1.5 to 4.5 pounds. Their life span in the wild is usually 10 to 15 years. The oldest recorded banded, wild bird is 23 years 3 months. Tame or captive birds have lived 40 years and longer.
There are two raven clades (a “tree of life” branch and its descendents). The California clade is found only in the southwest United States and northwest Mexico. The Holartic clade populates the rest of the bird’s range. The two clades diverged about two million years ago. It is speculated that the California branch arrived in North America at about that time and became isolated from the rest of the species during the ice age. The ravens in most of the Americas arrived with humans who crossed the Bering land bridge, perhaps 40,000 years ago. The ‘newcomers’ are more closely related to ravens of Europe and Asian than they are to those of California. A separate Californian sub-species developed in the Chihuahuan area of Mexico about a million years ago. My nightmare inducing friend was, of course, a California raven (Corvus corax sinuatus).
Ravens court at an early age, but do not form pairs until two or three years later. Arial acrobatics, demonstrations of intelligence and an ability to provide food are part of their courting ritual. Once bonded, the pair remains together for life and usually stays in the same local area. The 'married couple' establishes dominance over a home territory before they build a nest or breed. Their nests are large, dish shape structures of sticks cemented together with other material ranging from grass to deer hair and scavenged cloth. They are built in trees, on rock ledges or even on telephone poles and other man made structures.
Between December and February, depending on the climate, ravens lay three to seven eggs which are pale bluish-green with brown blotches. The eggs are seldom preyed on due to diligent protection by the parents. The size and cunning of the raven, and the fact that they have no natural predators, enables a high ‘hatch rate.’ Raven egg incubation takes between 18 and 21 days. The chicks fledge (grow feathers and become ready to fly), in 35 to 42 days. Both parents participate in providing food for the young. Young birds stay at home for about six more months. Again, few chicks are lost to nest raiders due to a vigorous defense by the parents. Ravens have been seen dropping stones on predators that venture too close to their nests. A pair of ravens can usually drive off birds of prey like the golden eagle who frequently share their range.
Though very devoted to 'family' ravens tend to be quarrelsome. Several pairs may nest in the same area, but hunting territories are exclusive. Trespassers are not tolerated. Ravens are very wary birds. They will never be the first to feed on carrion. They will wait until other birds go in, proving there is no danger. Once it is determined to be safe, ravens drive off the smaller birds and display a 'recruitment' behavior. They spread the word, announcing the food source to other ravens with special calls.
Ravens have a wide and complex ‘vocabulary.’ Common enunciations include a high “toc-toc-toc,” a low pitched “kraa,” and a guttural rattle (the latter two mimicked very accurately by the hooded man in my dream). Noises and calls made during defense or fights are loud and almost frightening. While in flight they frequently ‘sing’ in varied, musical tones. A group of juvenile ravens sometimes seem to carry on jabbering conversations. Some pets have been taught to say “good morning,” and other familiar phrases. I know of only one documented example of a raven repeatedly uttering, “Nevermore.”
Ravens have one of the largest brains of all birds. Observations in the wild and in controlled experiments indicate that they can solve problems, imitate and display insight. In one experiment a piece of meat was suspended from a string from the raven’s perch. In order to get the food, the bird had to pull up some of the string, step on it and continue to pull up short sections until the meat was reachable. Four out of five ravens tested were successful relatively quickly. They did not succeed by trial and error. They simply observed the circumstances for a period of time, then effectively pulled up their meal. Another raven, having watched the task performed, could do it himself almost immediately.
Curiously, though, while juveniles are eager to learn and try new things, adult ravens become very neophobic (afraid of new things). They are stubborn and resistant to participating in experiments and studies. They sometimes refuse new types of food. I’m pretty set in my ways by now, too. If it’s been working fine up till now, why change? So, I guess I can understand their point of view.
Ravens have demonstrated the ability to get other species to do work for them, and they intentionally try to trick or out smart other ravens. They have been observed seeking out wolves and coyotes and luring them to recently dead animals. The canines then tear open the carcass to feed, saving the ravens the trouble of penetrating the tough hides. Ravens create food caches to retrieve in times of need. They will watch other ravens burying food from afar, remember where it is and steal it later. They have been observed digging false caches and flying long circuitous routes before burying their own food to fool other ravens.
Juvenile ravens are particularly playful. Engaging in play is a very strong indication of intelligence. They have been observed intentionally sliding down a snow bank, going back to the top and doing it again. They have often been seen playing ‘catch me if you can’ with wolves and dogs. They perform spectacular aerial displays that are not associated with courting, doing loops and other acrobatic maneuvers. They sometimes interlock talons with other ravens and do impressive aerial dances. Ravens have been witnessed making tools; breaking off sticks to engage in playful fencing duels.
Ravens are often a powerful symbol in myth and folklore. In Sweden they were considered the ghosts of murdered people. In Germany they were thought to be the souls of the damned. In Danish folklore, Valravne is a supernatural raven who, having eaten the heart of a king who died on the battlefield, gained human knowledge and performed malicious acts.
Along the northwest Pacific coast of America the raven was considered to be the trickster and creator god. In Siberia and northeast Asia the raven god Kutkh was believed to have created the Kanchatka Peninsula. In Norse mythology the ravens Hugin and Munin were said to sit on the shoulders of Odin. They saw and heard all that went on in the world. Many Norse kings carried a raven banner into battle.
There are at least seven ravens kept in the Tower of London at all times. These 'pet' birds with clipped wings, individually colored leg bands and personal names, allegedly assure the security of the crown of England. “When the last raven leaves the Tower the monarchy will fall,” legend has it. There is much debate on the subject, but the most ancient 'story' is: Bran the Blessed (Bran means raven in Welsh), who was born in AD 485, died in battle. He willed that his head be buried on White Hill, where the Tower stands, facing France. Hence, England is protected from invasion, “by the power of the head of a king called Raven.”
In the Christian era, the raven has generally morphed into a bad omen, perhaps because of the negative symbolism of its black color and its eating of carrion, or because of its uncanny (could it be intelligent?), behavior. The raven appears in the bible in at least twelve different verses. The first bird Noah sent out from the ark to find land was a raven. Ravens brought food to the prophet Elijah. Jesus said in a parable: “Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds!” (Luke 12:24).
Watching my illustrious, talkative raven gracefully fly off toward the rocks exhilarated me. The residual fog of the dream was long gone. I went in and made coffee. Later that day, on a drive into town, I pulled the car over and took a short stroll through the desert. It was easy enough to find the ravens’ nest. Droppings stained the rocks below a bundle of sticks on a ledge about 30 feet up on the rim rock. One large, black bird stood near it and stared down at me. Another circled over head ‘hollering’ at me. He wasn’t carrying a stone as far as I could tell, but he obviously was not happy to have an unannounced visitor. I picked up a glossy, black feather, stuck it in my hat band and waved, “Hello.” They are my good friends and neighbors now. I call them Edgar and Lenore.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Quite interesting Jack. I really love the description of your dream, even though everything about it seemed rather ominous. You were in that other world, that dream space, while all around you life was occurring including the sound of the birds and, in particular, the crow - or was it the fact that you had struck up a sort of "friendship" with the bonded pair? Fact is you've written a very interesting tale in your The Raven - An Illustrious Bird!Thanks for readign and commenting
When I lived in Arizona, I observed the ravens there who loved to build nests up in the towers of the power lines. They would often make the rapid "Toc-toc-toc" noise, almost like a human clicking their tongue. They would harrass Golden Eagles and even Buzzards for food!Thanks for reading and commenting
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