My Monday lunch date has been cancelled and I shall make good use of that time by visiting the east side of the county courthouse. Purpose: to check out the ravens' nest that is tucked up into that corner niche above. It's March and birds should be sitting the nest by this time if it is occupied. Sometimes birds leave a nest fallow for a year so that the mites, ticks and other pests die down.
This particular spot has housed nests for I don't know how many years. One time, the county fathers decided that the "mess" had to be cleaned up. Out came the ramped-up cherry picker. Down came the twigs, feathers et al. Away went the county minions. Back came the ravens to rebuild. Since that time, this nest has been left pretty much alone. Some years, other ravens build in the similar site on the west side of the building.Linkages: With spring springing, it's wildflower time. RV-Boondocker has posted pictures from the desert. Another site for wildflower pix here.
I hope the ravens do nest, so we can see your pics!
ReplyDeleteWould those be pigeon nests?
ReplyDeleteWow, I've never even noticed the nests... I need to pay more attention. :)
ReplyDeleteRemember the McDonalds Ravens at the high school? My Daughter mentioned seeing a Raven holding a large McDonalds drink cup in it's beak when she picked my Granddaughter up. I'm going over there this week for sure to see about pix!
ReplyDeleteSorry, guys, so sorry. Apparently, officialdom has put up more of those anti-pigeon (and other bird) spikes than it does Christmas lights in November! I walked the Square & checked two times -- not a bird stirring. In fact, on the entire square, I only heard a couple of smallish birds twitter. I'm terribly disappointed, as you can imagine!!!
ReplyDeletePS, Style, no that was a raven's nest -- I've seen the adolescents walking the parapet, jumping backwards after getting too close to the edge. Last year, in fact.
If you're short on Ravens, drop by and net a few hundred. Some areas here are overrun with the big black bird. They've adjusted quite well to urban life and in some places have learned how to lift the lids of wheely bins, especially around restaurants. There's such a surplus locally, that culls are to be instituted.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a surplus of Rainbow Lorakeets(sp),an introduced species. They've taken over habitat to the detriment of native types.
Hermano
Bro -- since our ravens are into dumpsters, the lids are much too heavy for even a flock of the birds to lift. Too bad -- I'd like to see that! As for lorakeets, just where are these aliens from??? Not Europe. Not USA, which gets blamed for Everything Wrong With The World.
ReplyDeleteLots of ravens around here.
ReplyDeleteThe Lorakeets are an east coast critter, very bright colours, but real buggers when it comes to usurping habitat.
ReplyDeleteHermano
steve -- are your guys loners or flockers? ours tend to be loners, unlike their cousins the crows.
ReplyDeletebro -- with a name like that, I figured the critter had to be from somewhere in OZ...
Hanging around outside the Arts Prescott Coop last evening gazing at the Western facade of the Courthouse I saw two ravens courting (HA! no pun intended!) They were in the nest area then went up on the top and the male was presenting twigs to the female to see if they were good enough for her home. Then! Along came another male and the first spent about ten minutes chasing the intruder all over the square while the female went back and inspected the nest. Finally the nest preparation resumed as the sun set.
ReplyDeleteAin't downtown Prescott cool?
Interesting, DDD -- it's awfully late in the season for ravens, but perhaps I should look over at the east side again to see if there's any activity.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Eric Moore just reported in his March 13, 2008 "News from Jay's Bird Barn" newsletter that the Ravens in his yard had just "set up housekeeping duties."
ReplyDelete