The last few days there has been a lot of racket out in the ditch by our property. Unfortuneatley another deer has been killed by a car and the ravens are the first to arrive to start the cleanup. The ravens around here look much like a crow except they have a huge hooked beak and are probably three times the size...18-24" long.
There have been a pair around here forever, (apparently they can live to be about 40 years old) and have consistently nested and raised 3 or 4 young every spring. Generally they spell trouble for our chickens since, well, who doesn't like a nice fresh chicken for lunch now and then? We try to keep tabs on where the ravens are when the chickens are free ranging but once in a while the darkness falls and we have one less chicken. I must give the ravens credit though because they pick that chicken until there's nothing but bone and feathers unlike the mink. They got into the henhouse once and what they do is sink their teeth into a chickens neck and suck their blood like a vampire and then leave the rest...such a waste. Anyway quite often accompaning the ravens are the bald eagles...
This guy was keeping one eye on the carcass...
...and one eye on Griffin and I...
Its funny how people think of eagles as these really impressive, majestic birds, which they are but they are also one BIG scavenger...opportunistic at all times.
So the recycling begins and in turn one thing feeds another in a symbiotic relationship which is so prevalent in nature...some may think it disgusting or cruel but they have their purpose in this great big circle of life.
1 comment:
What amazing photos! Recycling is completely natural, and what a mess there would be otherwise!
Post a Comment