| As I was trying to find an alternate route home from Costco one day, I got lost in a residential neighborhood and came upon this interesting scene. A fresh piece of roadkill was in the middle of the road with a big raven standing guard over it. I was surprised that the raven didn't fly away until I was very close. It was protecting it's find! According to the book Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich, ravens can only eat carrion that has been torn open, usually by predators, but sometimes by motorists. Wanting to get a picture of the raven actually eating, I pulled over and waited. Ravens are very shy birds, and this one was no exception. The raven would occasionally flap down from a nearby tree, but never got too close. Finally, some curious neighbors emerged from their homes and removed the roadkill. Both the raven and I were saddened. In this photo I have highlighted the raven with a red circle, as it is hard to see. |
