MD OSPREYers,

Geez, I really would like someone to explain this range expansion/big autumn
incursion of Common Ravens along the piedmont/coastal plain near the
Potomac.  As you may know, there was a raven at Leesylvania SP (opposite
Indian Head, MD and about 1.5 miles away) yesterday which simply amazed me.
And the Fort Belvoir CBC has recorded Common Raven twice in three years at
locations within a mile of the river.

Kurt Gaskill

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Paul O'Brien
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:22 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Ravens in Rockville

This morning as Barbara and I were taking our daily walk around the 
neighborhood (old people do that sort of thing) four, count 'em, FOUR Ravens
flew north 
along Princeton Place, one muttering to the others.   By the time we got to 
College Parkway, the four had circled back and were flying east over College

Gardens Park.   As we looped back through the park two of the Ravens,
including 
the muttering one, flew overhead toward the west.   In the direction the
four 
flew and from which the two returned there are two microwave/cell phone
towers 
on either side of Rt 355 at College parkway.   Recall that the Damascus nest

was on such a tower.   I went back later in the day to scan the towers but 
found no Ravens or signs of a nest.   But this could have been a scouting
mission 
so I'll keep watching.   I interpreted the muttering Raven to be a young 
bird.   Perhaps we were looking at a family group with two adults and two 
offspring.   To put this sighting in context, we have heard or seen Ravens
in the 
neighborhood at least five times since spring and there are frequent reports
from 
Little Bennett Regional Park.

Isn't range expansion fascinating?

Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD


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