I was out at Al Borlin Park in Monroe with my students today. It was a fine
fall day, with Coho Salmon in Woods Creek and ouzels patrolling the shore
looking for salmon eggs. We came out to an overlook to the river and a pair
of ravens were flying together in an interesting and unusual pattern. At
first it seemed like follow the leader, with one raven shadowing the others
every move. Then the first one did a barrel roll, and ended up upside down
underneath the other one. They then veered apart laterally, then came
together, turning sidewise so that their feet almost touched, then righting
themselves, then again, coming together. They then started flapping their
wings in earnest, and climbing up side by side they disappeared from view,
much too soon, in the trees. Ravens are not all that common here, and this
is the fourth time this week I have noticed Ravens around town.

Coupled with the sparkling river and the non-stop song sparrow improv, it
was a nice introduction to a conversation about animal behavior. Why were
those birds flying in such a way? Is play a sign of intelligence? Or success
in finding food? Or is this sort of behavior NOT play at all, but perhaps a
pre-courting behavior or some kind of dominance display? The kids were
mostly convinced that the ravens were just goofing off, but then when
confronted with their own bias they became much less certain. "What do we
know of the motives of ravens" said one savvy thirteen year old. Indeed.

Birds are such great animals, and Ravens and Crows are the tops for doing
interesting things.

Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com


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