June,
I think Crows (and to some extent Gulls) are predisposed to harass
anything unfamiliar and potentially threatening to them, like Common
Ravens would be in most parts of Maryland. Along the west coast of Norway,
where I am from, Common Ravens are very numerous but never harassed by
Pied Crows. Ospreys on the other hand, rare along the coastline, create
complete caos whenever they occur. During my stays in Ontario, further
north where Ravens are increasingly common, I only see them being harassed
during the breeding season.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Best,
Frode Jacobsen
Baltimore, MD


> I have had the pleasure twice this fall of seeing and hearing Common
> Ravens in Howard County. The most recent was yesterday, in my back
> yard! (And yes, I sent a writeup to the Ho Co record keepers - it's
> not a state reviewable species in the Piedmont anymore.)
>
> Now for the question. In both sightings, there was one lone raven
> being harassed by several American Crows. Why do crows around here
> mob the ravens? I've seen lots of ravens in northern Minnesota and
> the crows there don't harass them - at least not that I've noticed.
>
> You folks in western Maryland where ravens are more numerous - do
> crows bother the ravens there?
>
> --
> June Tveekrem
> Columbia, Howard Co, MD
> tweekiebird AT toadmail DOT com
>