For the past two weeks we have had lots of Raven activity in the woods
behind my house, their quorks wake me each morning, and I see Ravens several
times a day. I suspect and hope they are nesting. Today I saw a pair of
crows chasing a Raven into the Forest, then about 30 seconds later a pair
of Ravens chased after the pair of crows, who split up directly overhead.
Then a couple minutes later, two crows chased one Raven back into the forest
but then turned around at the edge of the trees, and perched nearby. The
crows began cawing taunts, and they were answered back from at least 2
ravens with feeling!. This went on for several minutes and crows which I
could see, seemed to move around on the branches a lot, as if agitated.
Finally one crow flew off away from the woods, and both Ravens flew out, but
then swerved back into the woods out of view. Later I watched a Raven flying
at the edge of the woods and then saw a crow, flying parallel to it, about
45 feet to the side and slightly behind. It appears our road has become the
demilitarized zone between these two territories. This evening the name
calling continued with the crows perched in the same tree as before, this
time a single raven was holding up the response from that side, with about
100 feet between them. I am rooting for the Ravens!

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