Subject: Migrating Ravens in western WA?
Date: Oct 6 18:34:00 1996
From: Jim P. Flynn - bf519 at scn.org


Hello Tweets,

I didn't quite know what to do with myself today, birding-
wise and ended up at Cougar Mt Regional Wildland Park, east of
Seattle to do a little exploring. I've never really birded there
but it seems like a great place. It's huge! I don't know just how
huge, but it is the largest park in King County according to their
literature.
From a spot called "Far Country Lookout" I saw a sight that
piqued my curiosity: fifteen Ravens soaring and playing over the
mountain. The high number was the first surprise; that's easily
the largest flock of Ravens I've seen in western Washington and
perhaps anywhere for that matter. But these birds also seemed to
be flying Southward. I've never thought of them as migratory so
wasn't sure if they were just making local movements or truly
had some warmer, southern climes in mind as they passed over.
Does anyone have any feelings on this? I know they do
wander a bit; several years ago there was a Raven in Renton that
stayed several months. This group seemed too big to be a resident
family on Cougar Mt. Do any Issaquah Tweeters see large flocks in
their area?

Jim Flynn
Renton, WA
bf519 at scn.org