Tag Archives: why you shouldn’t feed Ravens

Michael Reinhart found a Common Raven eyeing twp Pelagic Cormorant nests with chicks inside.

The Raven swooped down and the cormorants "yelled" at the bird.

The raven had its eye on a nest with a single chick. Look how the mama bird protects her offspring, with her wing spread.

The Raven was unsuccessful on this day, but we know ravens steal a great many cormorant eggs and chicks. It's one of the many reasons we humans shouldn't feed ravens, especially close to the bluff edge. The cormorants are much shyer birds so you don't want to attract ravens to their traditional nesting area.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his dramatic photos.

Another sunny, warm day on the Mendonoma Coast!

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It was a mystery. About three or four weeks ago Mary Heibel was hiking at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, near the Field Station. She found approximately 12 broken shells right near the bluff edge. She brought one to me. It’s bigger than a chicken egg, tan with gray and dark brown splotches, almost as if an artist had thrown paint at the shell. Osprey eggs comes closest in looks, but 12 eggs? There was no discernable nest according to Mary. I wondered what birds might produce a dozen eggs and an egg quite large. Wild Turkey eggs were not a match.

Diane Hichwa provided the first clue. She theorized that the spot was an eating place rather than a nesting spot. Dave Jensen suggested looking at Western Gull and Common Murre eggs as a reference. Dave suggested Common Ravens could have been egg thieves. He wrote, “They often work in pairs, one to distract and the other to snatch. Their increasing population proves the point.”

The eggs were a match for Western Gulls. Doug Forsell had more insights. He wrote, “For at least four years now a pair of Ravens have been taking the eggs from the Cormorant colonies along the cliffs and on the island near the Field Station. Last year, during the Discover the Coast event, I watched the ravens taking both Pelagic Cormorant and Western Gull eggs.”

Ravens also steal Common Murre eggs. Ron LeValley sent along a photo of a raven flying with one in its beak.

Seabirds are shy in comparison with ravens. Doug shared a video where a raven flew to a Pelagic Cormorant’s nest and pushed the nesting mother off the nest. The raven the stole the lone egg. https://youtu.be/Upw4D0OamEc

Common Ravens eat everything, including carrion. We have an overabundance of ravens here and one of the reasons is that we humans are feeding them. For the sake of the seabirds, we must stop.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you. Quite a mystery tour this ended up to be. I appreciate everyone who helped solve it.

Common Ravens are thriving on the Mendonoma Coast. And it is a cause for concern. Ravens are extremely intelligent and people enjoy feeding them. Peggy Berryhill lives in a area where a neighbor has been feeding these big black bird. Here is a collage of what Peggy saw the other afternoon.

Ravenwood by Peggy Berryhill

Ravens eat pretty much everything, including carrion, and they raid nests of other less aggressive birds. It would be best not to feed them, as they do not need anyone's help.

When they have more food available, they are able to lay more eggs, thus we have more Ravens. Here is a recent photo of a Raven's nest taken by Kathy Bishop showing newly hatched four chicks in the nest.

Common Raven Chicks by Kathy Bishop

One of the things I admire about Ravens is their vocalizations. They have a "clock, clock" sound which is quite beautiful.

Thanks to Peggy and Kathy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.