Ravens Again

[Acipiter]

For the last few years around this time of the year, I see a few ravens, this morning a pair flew over the wood, I know its a difficult question, but where would they most likely have come from, and what "are the possible possibilities please." I was on the Cambridgeshire Hertfordshire border.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

I know its a difficult question, but where would they most likely have come from, and what "are the possible possibilities please."

Not a "difficult" question at all - it's a downright impossible one!

Ravens can quite easily cover fairly large distances, and have been increasing and spreading east for some years now. They are still scarce in most counties in the south-east, but nowhere near to being the extreme rarity that they were as recently as 10 years ago.

A few pairs of Ravens now breed in west Hertfordshire, and there is every reason to suspect that they will continue to increase. The ones that you saw are perhaps most likely to be a young pair seeking a new territory, and could be the offspring of birds breeding in Herts or could have come from areas much further west where the poplations are better established and free territories are perhaps in short supply. It's perhaps also possible that they have come over from the continent, or even down from northern Britain (although the pattern of recent records in eastern counties seems to indicate that at least the majority are coming from the west).

[the poacher]

oo Roy W,only to live in Herefordshire,twenty five years ago or more,when you only glimpsed the black devil over the Black Mountains,on Hay Bluff. I watched him only yesterday come to us and gather,thirty or more on a thermal and mock the buzzards with there antics only a great black bird can do when they gather there clan,they live next door to me ,and iv seen a "pet one" that talked,kept by some travellers that passed by,iv held one in my hand,full grown,and it'll look at you,and stare you in the eye,and it knows if your a friend.

[Acipiter]

Thanks for that Roy, believe it or not I had the same thoughts, but my knowledge on ravens is only from what I have read in books, and I do like to find out for myself, if all the printed facts are correct or not "when ever possible". I was just wondering if my idea's on the matter where the same as anyone else's. I do appreciate it was a difficult question to answer, or downright impossible as you put it but I thank you again for your thoughts on the matter.

[the poacher]

commander of the empires strikes again,with no knowledge of what goes on in the rest of his empire,ie the rest of the raven world
tuck yourself in and fly o commanders of the empires
and come watch,,i say to you now,come watch fifty black birds
abuve yon yed over mountain forts and vallies
from them dark mine pits of South Wales to the greener parts where man scratched his livin,and with him
came that black soul you say,that brings you death ,,ANDglory all in one breath.
You see that bird,she drinks from my table every day,every day she calls out
and i know shes there
shes the first bird not to call.
dark in the morn.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by the poacher

commander of the empires strikes again,with no knowledge of what goes on in the rest of his empire,ie the rest of the raven world
tuck yourself in and fly o commanders of the empires
and come watch,,i say to you now,come watch fifty black birds
abuve yon yed over mountain forts and vallies
from them dark mine pits of South Wales to the greener parts where man scratched his livin,and with him
came that black soul you say,that brings you death ,,ANDglory all in one breath.
You see that bird,she drinks from my table every day,every day she calls out
and i know shes there
shes the first bird not to call.
dark in the morn.

Eh? What?

I have no idea what you are on about here, but presumably the "commander of the empire" reference is meant to apply to me (in case you are unaware these 'titles' are linked to the number of posts made on this forum, nothing more).
I am aware of the distribution, and population densities of Ravens elsewhere in the UK, and as well as watching flocks in Scotland & Cornwall (+outside the UK), I spent just over 5 years in the first part of the 90s living in west Wales. Other than the fact that the populations in these areas have been increasing, and they have been spreading east (which I briefly mentioned), it's not really relevant to the question asked though.