This afternoon at 1:20 in the woods contiguous with our backyard, Wally and I listened for about 15 minutes as a Raven did a perfect rendition of the notes and rhythm of the classic Barred Owl, "who cooks for you-oo" call. Of course the "voice" was all Raven and not at all Barred Owl, but the song was spot-on in every other respect. There was a minute or two between each performance of the "song".
The Barred Owl has been mewling in our woods for the last three nights. Two mornings ago a group of Crows (not visible to me) raised a ruckus in the woods. The Amer. Crows are in the yard every other day or so, usually two or three of them, and they bring in a consultant when we devise a new strategy for protecting the suet. But they always learn how to retrieve it. Anyhow, I figured they must have found the Owl roost.
The Raven is always in the neighborhood but seldom seen. I hear its call every three or four days and once or twice a month I see it fly over the yard. Once in a great while it perches in a tree near the house.
This afternoon's performance was stunning. I suppose everyone has half a dozen bird experiences that will always be at the top of the life list. This will certainly be one of mine. If I hadn't "heard it with my own ears", I would not be able to imagine such a thing.
Is this common Raven behavior? What is the purpose; does anyone know? Was the Raven announcing the presence of the Owl to other Ravens? I'll have to go read again in Bernd Heinrich's book and see if he mentions this. I remember now that in Norse mythology Odin had two Ravens perched on his shoulder, and looking it up (on Wikipedia) I see that "Heimskringla details that Odin gave Huginn and Muninn the ability to speak." and I am not the least bit surprised.
Carol in Town Hill
--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
No comments:
Post a Comment