Steve

Nest dates in the 1996 Yellowbook show the dates from Feb. 23-Mar. 23 for 
Common Raven.  On April 23, 1994 Jim Stasz and I had a Raven in western 
Charles Co. flying over Rt. 224 near Purse's State Park.  We surmised that 
our bird was a post breeding wonderer.

I have been putting down a lot of beef fat lately on the back drive to 
attract the vultures, hawks and crows for photo ops.  Maybe the smell 
brought in the Raven.  If only I had not been stuck in bridge traffic, and 
decided to stay home Friday morning, I would have had a wonderful yard bird. 
Who knows why the bird stopped her but it is invited back again - anytime.

Today Gwen and I found a pair of Peregrine Falcons while birding with Stan 
Arnold and Bill Hubick.  The birds were copulating on a ledge on the north 
side of the Harry Nice Bridge.  Safe date for this species is May 20 so I 
will be watching.  The bridge, on Rt. 301, crosses into the evil empire of 
Virginia from Charles Co.  Stan is likely to report the other mid-70 species 
we had before we split up.  I took some distant shots.  Maybe photo species 
number 100 for the year in the good empire of MD.  Stan and Bill headed to 
St. Mary's.

George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Steven Huy" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Common Raven in Charles Co.


>I am not far from raven territory but by no means do I live in raven
> habitat.  Yet each winter, usually February and March, a pair makes a
> circuit around the farm fields.  They may stay a couple of days and then
> they disappear.  They are extremely vocal.
>
> Are they passing through?  Is it one of the pairs that might be nesting on
> nearby South Mountain?  Perhaps it is somehow related to courtship?
>
> Steve Huy
> Middletown, MD
> 
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Gwen Brewer
> Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 8:10 AM
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Common Raven in Charles Co.
>
> Well, how's this for a start to your day....  At 7 am, I heard a low
> croaking coming from the back yard in Waldorf.  My days in Allegany County
> tuned my ears to that sound, and I sprinted downstairs as fast as I could.
> Sure enough, there was a Common Raven sitting on top of our shed!  I could
> see the long throat feathers extend out as the raven called a few more
> times, and two head tufts sticking up slightly.  The massive bill is 
> always
> impressive on these birds.  I ran back upstairs for a camera, but alas, 
> the
> resident photographer (George Jett) had the digital cameras (and is stuck 
> at
> the Bay Bridge on his way to a Baltimore Bird Club trip to Poplar Island).
> Rather than take the time to load one of the "oldies" up with film, I went
> back down for another look at the bird, but it was already on the move.  I
> just caught a glimpse of it as it flew off to the north, but unfortunately
> did not get a clear shot at the tail shape.  I had hoped it would stay
> around and sample the pork neck bones that we put out for the 
> Red-shouldered
> Hawks, but maybe we will be lucky and it will come back for a meal- when 
> the
> cameras are at the ready!
>
> Gwen Brewer
> Waldorf, MD
>