Hello Alexia,


I often refer to the Cornell ornithology website for research based information regarding species. The following are direct quotes from that site:




"Pair Formation

No information on when pairs form. Considerable displaying , possibly courtship, occurs in flocks throughout the year, with greatest intensity in fall and winter (Jan and Feb; Dorn 1972 , Conner et al. 1976 , Heinrich 1989 ).



"Dives and rolls by tucking both wings in; dives and turns by tucking one wing in; turns loops and accelerates with short choppy wingbeats. Aerobatic rolls have been seen in as many as 16% of observations of individual flying birds ( Van Vuren 1984 ). Sometimes makes half-rolls onto back (95% of recorded rolls), occasionally makes full rolls (3%) and double rolls (1%). Aerobatic rolls may serve a socialization function (dominance or courtship display) but are performed throughout the year by solitary individuals and by birds in large flocks and small groups ( Dorn 1972 , Van Vuren 1984 ). Observed flying upside down for as far as 1 km ( Evershed 1930 , T?ning 1931 ).

"Play

Diverse and complex, often involving inventive and learning behaviors: sliding down inclines on belly, lying on side grappling sticks, dropping and catching objects while in flight, hanging upside down by one or two feet, snow ?bathing,? giving vocal monologues, caching inedible items, playing ?tug-of-war? or ?king-of-the-hill? with other ravens, pecking predators on tail ( Dorn 1972 , Ficken 1977 , Heinrich and Smolker 1998 ). All of these behaviors may have some ultimate function, perhaps relating to food acquisition and handling or mate attraction, but they are most common in young birds for whom the immediate function is often not evident.



"Ravens are known to approach canids and large predatory birds on the ground from behind and yank on their tails. Tame fledglings engage in this behavior toward both cats and dogs. If a bird avoids a dog when pecking the dog?s tail, it will become increasingly bolder and eventually attempt to peck it on the nose (BH). The exploratory behavior may be a mechanism of assessing the reactions and capabilities of animals that may be encountered later at food."

Hope that helps answer your question.

Dan Reiff






----- Original Message -----
From: "Alexia Allen" <alexia at wildernessawareness.org>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2010 12:48:42 PM
Subject: re: [Tweeters] Raven Behavior



A few weeks ago I was driving through North Bend, and watched a pair of ravens flying together, very close. Suddenly one did a barrel roll around the other one, rolling over onto its back and then resuming flight as if nothing had happened. It was a very impressive maneuver. I wondered if it was some kind of pair-bonding ritual. I have seen other aerial behavior recently that fits your description, and I wonder how it fits into the yearly rhythms of raven behavior. If anyone knows, I'd love to hear about it.


Chirp,


Alexia Allen
Wilderness Awareness School
www.wildernessawareness.org


>From : "Ken and Tina" <kenandtina at comcast.net>
Sent : Saturday, October 30, 2010 12:06 PM
To : tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject : [Tweeters] Raven Behavior




Hey Tweets,



I saw an unusual raven behavior a couple weeks back and I was wondering if anyone could help me?

I saw a raven roll onto its side in flight while it was calling. Has anyone seen or experienced this before?



Thanks in advance,



Ken Grant

North Bend WA

kenandtina at comcast.net



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