The things that seemed really big when you were a kid end up a being lot smaller when viewed through your adult eyes. Everyone understands that apparently … except me.
When I was a kid these birds were less than half the size and had a much more annoying call. Though now that I think about it, those might have been crows. But no matter, these ravens are huge. I’m sure the bears are starting to take note.
Since it’s obvious that ravens getting larger is a bad thing, we need to find something to blame … like climate change. Any other theories you can suggest would be most helpful!
Meanwhile, I’m going back to measure myself. Just in case I’m getting smaller.
Scott Marshall says:
I love the detail in the first shot
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Lyle Krahn says:
Thanks – I was pleased to get that.
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artsifrtsy says:
They are huge – seeing them fly overhead they seem comparable with a vulture or a good sized hawk – Great close shots – getting detail on a black bird with black features is a challenge.
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Lyle Krahn says:
Thanks. I have to keep working to get that black on black to show some detail.
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Mandy says:
At last – an animal we have in common. Your raven is almost identical to the Aussie version.
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Lyle Krahn says:
I was beginning to think we had no wildlife in common. Still it seems strange that it’s a raven.
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Deb W. Trotter says:
Those are really nice photos. Thanks for giving me a detailed look at a bird I pretty much ignore as a big, dark, annoying presence!
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Lyle Krahn says:
Thanks. I have been slowly changing from the black annoying thing to intriguing. I still hate crows though. You have to draw the line somewhere.
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Phil Lanoue says:
Did you ever watch Game of Thrones on HBO? There are always sending the raven off to deliver a message. They looked fairly small on TV though. I wonder if they really used crows for the filming?
I like these guys. But then again I like vultures so…
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Lyle Krahn says:
I never saw the show. But if they looked small you might be right. So you like vultures, ravens and … Spoonbills? I’m sure there’s a pattern in there somewhere.
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Phil Lanoue says:
There probably is a pattern. Maybe it’s a goth thing with pink and black. Not that I’m goth but I bet a lot of birds would wear that look very well.
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caleephotography says:
I read in the Economist that many birds are increasing in size to have better chances of surviving. Some small bird species have disappeared while big birds increase. For example, not long ago it was very rare to see swans and herons over here, but now there are several in every little pond. So it’s not just your imagination, they probably ARE bigger.
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Lyle Krahn says:
That’s very interesting. The big get bigger! Always nice to have reassurance that I’m not completely crazy!
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Mike Powell says:
Maybe it’s the fact that tomorrow is Halloween, a day when thoughts turn to ghosts, goblins, and other scarey creatures, but I find your raven to have a frightening look to them. There is an intensity to the raven like he is really hungry (and if I am not mistaken, “ravenous” originally referred to “hungry as a raven”). I definitely would not want to tangle with a group of them in a darkened place.
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Lyle Krahn says:
Well you definitely upped the ante with making the place dark, adding a group of them, making them hungry and throwing in images of Halloween! I wish I would have thot of all that sooner since that would have been a much more dramatic post!
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Mike Powell says:
All you would need to do is work in Edgar Allan Poe’s raven poem for the full effect.
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Jeff | Planet Bell says:
I am opposed to all oversized black birds. Be careful out there.
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Lyle Krahn says:
The closer I get to those ravens, the more it makes me pause.
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toughlittlebirds says:
That is one shaggy and colorful raven! I’ve never seen the colors that clearly before.
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Lyle Krahn says:
I’m always fascinated by a closer view and the information it reveals. The raven is no exception. By your comments, I can safely assume that is one bird you have not banded:)
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toughlittlebirds says:
No, sadly we’ve never caught a corvid – they’re too big and would bounce out of the net. We’ve never caught anybody black and colorful either; almost caught a male Brewer’s Blackbird once, but then his mate flew in instead. So I’ve never seen the shiny black up close. Something to hope for next summer…
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Lyle Krahn says:
Here’s hoping it happens
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melodylowes says:
Isn’t it funny what perspective can do? I’m kinda fascinated by the underbelly backwards shot, actually – I honestly don’t know that I’ve ever taken note of the undercarriage before – there are some pretty feathers hiding in those dark shadows after all. Who knew?
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Lyle Krahn says:
That’s often the case when I taken note of something. I’ve been wondering lately if all those years I wrongly assumed there were only geese in the fields and now I see lots of Sandhill Cranes.
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melodylowes says:
And to the generic ‘geese’ we add Ross’ geese, snow geese, speckle-bellies – and the perennial sandhills. Amazing what one can miss for decades, isn’t it??
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Lyle Krahn says:
That’s exactly right. Who knows what I don’t even know?
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melodylowes says:
😉 Someone somewhere knows something, rest assured….
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Gunta says:
Teenage mutant ninja ravens?
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Lyle Krahn says:
That must be it!
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meganorussell says:
Ravens are scary little buggers.
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Lyle Krahn says:
I think it’s the black outfit and that oversize beak.
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