As I walked closer to the nest tree, the
ravens began calling louder and I stopped to try to
find them. I watched the upset ravens circling
above the trees until I realized their focus had
shifted to me. I began to wonder...
...could this be a raven
nest?
The parents settled closer into a nearby tree
and continued calling loudly. This time there was
an answering call, but not from the nest as I had
expected. The call came from the ground about ten
feet in front of me. I bent down low to the ground
and sat right on an old thorny rose stem.
Definitely NOT what I was looking for. Then, in a
dense tangle of sticks and brush below the tree, a
shadow moved.
I saw raven baby!
The baby raven was lying on the ground below the
nest in a tangle of sticks. I was worried the baby
raven had injured itself falling out of the nest
but, when I stepped sideways to a more open view
the baby saw me and clumsily started trying to move
toward me. It was time to leave.
I moved away until the baby raven settled back
into its pile of sticks on the ground and seemed
content.
As I leaned into an opening in the brush for one
last picture the parents called again
and I was treated to yet another surprise!
I was so surprised by the baby raven's big,
bright red mouth I forgot to take a picture!
Fortunately, the baby raven gave the same response
again when I "caw"ed and here is the photo.
What a treat! This clumsy baby raven was about the
same size as a full grown Green-winged
Teal!
