CHEERING FOR THE RAVENS

Ravens don’t live where I live so when I travel to forested places at higher elevations

 I watch for the great birds.

They are jet black from their knife shaped beak all the way to their toes.

 They are larger than crows and have a thick neck and shaggy throat feathers.

 Heavy skirt feathers come in handy for keeping feet warm in cold weather.

Ravens have a reputation for being among the smartest of all birds.  They have been known to solve complicated problems and are often seen flying straight down highways looking for roadkill.

 Soaking up some thin sunlight in icy weather

Studies done in Yellowstone Park found ravens locating injured elk and calling raucously, attracting the attention of a local wolf pack for an easy kill.

Raven researcher, Bernd Heinrich established that ravens and wolves are close associates.  His data showed that ravens were found near wolf packs up to 99.7 percent of the time in winter at Yellowstone National Park.

It is very possible that ravens and wolves are hunting partners who share the spoils.

I like to watch as they communicate 

and search the area from their positions on favorite perches.

Then, with a low croak, they stretch across the sky in easy, flowing wingbeats,

 the long, “fingers” at their wing tips sweeping the air.

Maybe The Ravens are considered the underdog but I’m still cheering for them to soar into victory.