What seems to be a raven family of at least mom and two "teenagers" have been making quite a racket. A few photos from this morning (late May) and a brief video.
Mid-morning they were checking out one house (above) and then moved on to the next
Mum profile and "calling"
Miscellaneous
Note the pink "lip" in the right photo. Young birds often have coloured lips as targets for parent's feeding
Quoting from allaboutbirds.com
Common Ravens make many different kinds of calls varying from a low, gurgling croak to harsh grating sounds and shrill alarm calls. Scientists have placed their vocalizations into as many as 33 different categories based on sound and context. The most commonly heard is the classic gurgling croak, rising in pitch and seeming to come from the back of the throat. It’s much deeper and more musical than a crow’s simple, scratchy caw. Ravens make this call often. It’s audible for more than a mile, and ravens often give it in response to other ravens they hear in the distance. Among their other calls, ravens make short, repeated, shrill calls when chasing predators or trespassers, and deep, rasping calls when their nests are disturbed. Dominant females sometimes make a rapid series of 12 or so loud knocking sounds that lasts about a second. Common Ravens can mimic other birds, and when raised in captivity can even be taught words.
<<<<<<THE NEXT MORNING>>>>>
The following morning, one of the ravens (likely Mum) dropped by our bird bath to soften a snack. This was normal behaviour we have frequently seen
The photos are a bit fuzzy as the windows are covered with spots to deter birds from flying into the window. (They work!)
An hour or so later the raven dropped off a slice of toast for softening in the water and left. Thanks goodness it was only toast this time!.
We removed it as it mucks up the water for other birds. No video, but the raven returned later, searched the bird bath for the toast, and left empty handed.
Then a few hours later two ravens brought more toast.....
They seem to be leaving good size poop in payment for using the bird bath.
And in other news....
Chippie (or at least a chipmunk) has returned. We hadn't seen it last fall or earlier this spring.
