Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Re: Common Raven in Charles Co.

From:

"David F. Brinker"

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 17:43:03 -0500

MD Ospreyers,

Most mature Common Ravens are presently focused on incubating eggs and some
may be attending small chicks.  I have banded large well feathered chicks in
Garrett County as early as 4 April.  Over the past two weeks I have checked
a number of Common Raven nests that I have tracked for many years to add
confirmations to the atlas.  I am trying to revisit all sites that I know of
before the close of the atlas at the end of 2006.  There have been
incubating adults on most of the nests.  Gwen's and Bob's out of usual range
observations are most certainly-likely wandering subadults.  Interesting
thought that they occurred within days of each other.

For all of you atlas workers on MD Osprey - now is the time to confirm
Common Ravens on nests!  This past week I had Common Raven nests, with
incubating adults, on two artificial structures in Garrett Co., a roadside
sign and an industrial canopy.  Other places to check would be exceptionally
high bridges over the Potomac River or even major highways or lattice
towers.  Standard overpasses are probably too low.  Remember, out west
Common Ravens regularly use electric transmission towers as nest sites.  In
Maryland, I once had a successful Common Raven nest on an inoperative coal
strip mine dragline boom adjacent to I-68!  Of course I also have active
nests on numerous rock outcrops.  Please think "outside the box" as ravens
do not always require huge massive cliffs.  I have more than one on very
small rock outcrops that do not even break the surrounding tree canopy.  For
example, one is an old quarry, another a roadside cliff right next to an
interstate.  As one would expect, there are also others on large rock
outcrops.  There are occasional tree nests, thought I do not feel that is as
frequent a choice in Maryland as in other parts of North America.  In
Wisconsin, Common Ravens are almost exclusive tree nesters as we have
virtually no rock out crops back home.  When tree nesting is expected, look
for raven nests in old conifer plantations of White or Red Pine or Norway
Spruce or areas with scattered frequent large White Pines.  Common Ravens in
the central Appalachians may be nest site limited as they seem to be
choosing unexpected nest sites more frequently.

Post breeding dispersal probably does not take Common Ravens, especially
adults far from their home ranges.  Juvenals probably don't wander
extensively until their first autumn-winter.  Adults are mostly permanent
residents.  For an excellent read and intimate review of Common Raven
natural history see Bernd Heinrich's "Ravens in Winter" and "Mind of the
Raven".

Good birding and atlasing to all!

David F. Brinker
Central Region Ecologist
Natural Heritage Program
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
1200 Frederick Rd.
Catonsville, Maryland  21228

E-mail: 
or        

ph. 410-744-8939 (office)



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George M. Jett" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:20 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Common Raven in Charles Co.


> 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.