At the Hyak nordic ski area, by the Grand junction hut a couple of skiers
were amusing themselves by feeding a couple of gray jays by hand. The scene
went kind of out of control a few momements later when two ravens swooped
in, scared off the jays and apparently tried to take some food from one of
the skiers hands. The large birds both converged close together, which was
all together too close for the skier who did what any person suddenly
confronted with two huge black birds in her face would do....she fell down
and threw the food away from her. Her companions began yelling and waving
their poles at the ravens, who scooted out of there, one turning back to
look at the gesticulating monkeys with a look which clearly said,
sheesh...what a bunch of soreheads... It all happened in about 10 seconds.
After the people had left, the jays came back and poked around for the flung
food, the ravens stayed away. Later, in the parking lot, I gave the
remainder of my sandwich up to a pair of ravens as compension for the bad
manners from earlier. This pair was rightfully cautious. I noticed that all
the ravens I saw today were in twos...

Also saw a herd of elk, just east of Snoqualmie, running in the field and go
charging into a flock of canada geese who exploded with much squawking and
such.


Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm
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