Ravenwatch

A few days ago Senior Warden Colin Morris spotted a ravens nest on a quiet part of the Estate. Just about visible were three young peeking out of the nest. I went to see them yesterday and again today to see if they had fledged. Today one remained in the nest while two others explored the branches of the Scots pine around them, stretching their wings but not quite daring to fly. We'll be keeping a close eye on them over the next few days to see if we can watch their early flights. I managed a few pictures on my little camera but volunteer photographer Sean got some good close ups that I will add as soon as I get them.

The ravens nest and one of the fledglings exploring his new world

Common ravens (Corvus corax) are the largest bird in the crow family - a fully grown adult is around 25 inches in length (thats 63 centimetres - well over half a metre!) with a wingspan of 40-48 inches (101-120cm). They can live up to 20 years and the adults mate for life and defend their own territory. They are omnivores, eating carrion, grains, insects, berries, fruits, eggs and small animals. They have a distinctive croaking call and their massive size makes them very recognisable from their crow, rook and jackdaw cousins. I'll keep you informed of their development!