South Arlington’s Ravens

Photo: Common Raven, Wendy Davis/Audubon Photography Awards

South Arlington birders were thrilled last year when Common Ravens, which had been haunting the Long Branch Nature Center area, built a nest on a Route 50 abutment where the roadway crosses the W&OD Trail. Even better, they raised two chicks successfully. See last year’s story. 

So, they were doubly pleased when the Ravens returned this year to the same nest. They refurbished it a little, adding Red Fox fur from a nearby carcass, and raised four chicks. It’s a pretty big nest but looked awfully small when it held four young birds on the verge of fledging, particularly when one of the adults returned with food.

Adult Raven and four demanding youngsters, David Howell

Although some birders were surprised to see the Ravens move into such an urbanized area, Cornell’s All About Birds reports that Ravens are doing well in many urban environments. They are omnivores, and can take advantage of the food careless humans leave behind. They have certainly succeeded so far in South Arlington. Cornell reports that clutch size for Common Ravens is 3-7 eggs, so we’ll have to wait to see whether the pair expands its family further.

Arlington’s Nesting Ravens

Photo: Common Raven, David Howell

Steve Young

This spring Arlington residents who have not spent enough time further away to observe the breeding and nesting cycle of the Common Raven had a rare local treat. A pair of ravens built a nest in the Glencarlyn Park area. They appear to have raised two chicks successfully. I have enjoyed following their activities, and David Howell (whose photos appear in this article) documented the nesting process.

Until recently, Common Ravens were a rare sight in Arlington, and nesting was not confirmed. After being reduced to mountain populations, ravens began reappearing in northern Virginia in the last few years. There also have been reports of them nesting in the DC Metro area.

In Spring 2022, birders and staff at Glencarlyn Park’s Long Branch Nature Center started seeing and hearing a pair of Common Ravens frequently. They were clocked at the Nature Center and Sparrow Pond, and they showed particular interest in the Route 50/Arlington Blvd. bridge over Four Mile Run. But no one reported seeing a nest. In late winter 2022-2023, however, the ravens reappeared at the same place.

Around January 2023, we saw and heard the ravens flying over the Glencarlyn area. Frequently American Crows mobbed them aggressively. But I observed an interesting behavior evolve. I saw ravens “pop up,” make a short flight, vocalize, and then disappear into a perch before the crows could arrive. The ravens appeared to be playing mind games with the crows, and, perhaps due to raven craftiness and crow frustration, mobbing ended. I later saw a crow and raven flying together in close formation as if they were pals.

Incubating the eggs, David Howell

In February, several people observed the ravens building a nest on a bridge abutment. By mid-February a raven was on the nest, apparently brooding eggs! The female takes on this job, and the male brings her food. When walkers stopped near the bridge to observe the nest, one of the ravens, probably the protective male of the pair, often flew from one nearby tree to another, calling, likely trying to draw interest away from the nest.

Distracting viewers, David Howell

At least one of the chicks hatched around March 22, and was being fed as early as March 23. Later observations and photos showed two nestlings being fed, although the time of the second hatch is uncertain. One nestling was quite a bit larger than the other. By late April, it looked as if only one bird remained in the nest, and then there were none. Those of us who had been watching the nest exchanged anxious emails, concerned that one or both of the chicks had not survived.

Younger chick about to fledge, David Howell

But, we were wrong! The chicks’ departures from the nest had been stealthy, and no one reported seeing or hearing them on the ground. In May, we’ve seen and heard at least one and almost certainly both chicks. They’ve been perching in nearby tall trees, begging for food. One of the juveniles is a loud and persistent beggar, while the other seems content to keep a quieter profile. We’ve also seen a few awkward flights from treetop to treetop. Whether juveniles are preyed on by other birds, like American Crows, is always a concern. But, harking back to behavior I saw earlier, it may be that the crows and ravens have reached a modus vivendi, because in late May I saw a juvenile calling, perched right next to a crow, which was not harassing it.

Raven parents feed their young by regurgitating food into their mouths, and they continue to feed them for weeks after they fledge until the juveniles begin to forage on their own. As of May 20, we were still hearing lots of begging. We all have our fingers crossed that both juveniles survive and that the parents return to nest again in Arlington.

Common Ravens and their Mythic Duty Across the Pond

Photo: Common Raven, Deidra Bryant

Deidra Bryant

This winter I visited England for a month. Within this cold, damp country there were many prodigious buildings constructed before the 10th century, and there was so much history within each old city. I happened to stay in the quiet town of Kimbolton where the countryside was home to a variety of foraging and hunting birds. Darting kites, stealthy Barn Owls, and what seemed like a lot of pheasants occupied most of my time when I was relaxing at the house, especially after a good rain. However, the most memorable avian species in my opinion – and most symbolic to the country and its culture – was the Common Raven (Corvus corax). Did you know that until the 16th century, this native species lived close to people because their scavenging habits helped keep the streets clean? Unfortunately, wild ravens were viewed as a threat to livestock in later years and during the 19th century they were systematically hunted all over Great Britain.

Common Raven, Deidra Bryant

There are so many fun and exciting tales regarding these birds in British lore and I encourage you to read them at your leisure. However, there is also a lot of history regarding their presence, care, and interactions with guests at the Tower of London. Legend has it that the ravens living there are to protect the Crown and the Tower and if they were ever to leave, the Crown and all of Great Britain would fall. The resident ravens (Erin, Georgie, Gripp, Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, and Rocky) are all roommates and share a stainless-steel mesh aviary located on the enormous lawn where they play and perch when they aren't walking the grounds. Inside their enclosure, each raven has their own sleeping box with a sealable opening in the back so that they can come and go as they please during the day and be locked safe inside every night. Additionally, they have a “Ravenmaster” dressed in full ceremonial garb who is tasked with their care. As for their diet, it’s a very meaty one consisting of mice, chicks, rats, and assorted raw meats which can become quite costly each year. Fortunately, the Historic Royal Palaces charity which looks after the Tower of London secures an annual budget for the ravens’ care along with support from members, donors, volunteers, and visitors. With shelter, grooming, and food taken care of, these ravens are able to focus on fulfilling their duty as fortress guardians as they have for centuries.

Common Ravens are becoming more prominent in Northern Virginia and some reside here year-round, but they are easily mistaken for crows. Good ways to identify whether a corvid is a crow or a raven are to look for the long fancy throat feathers, the wedge-shaped tail, and the larger and slightly curved beak with nasal feathers of the raven. Another good way to tell the difference between crows and ravens is to listen to their calls: the raven makes deep croaking calls while American Crows make higher pitched calls. Ravens are also much bigger than crows in both size and weight. In fact, when the Tower ravens approached me, they were both friendly/respectful but intimidating.

Ravens are quirky and very intelligent. It’s a shame that people think they are a bad omen in America. They have so much personality and are fun to observe! If you ever catch a raven at a park or on the side of the road, keep your distance and see for yourself.