(This is a note from Jay Sheppard)

The Common Ravens nesting under Duckett Dam on Rocky Gorge Reservoir have 4 large nestlings. Several of us visited the dam today (4/11/12).   My guess is that they will fledge about the very end of this month or first week of May at the latest.  If past families' behaviors are any indicator of what this family will do....they should hang around the dam until next FALL, with the young moving off sometime this late summer or early fall.  The adults appear to remain close to the dam most of the time, roosting there at nights.  Foraging may take them several miles afield..like the Oxbow or Annapolis Jct. are in western Anne Arundel Co.
 
What continues to be altered is the male's tail.  While it was heavily frayed in early March, now it is mostly GONE!  It is less than half of its normal length.  The wing tips are also clearly heavily frayed.  The male has been seen a few times each week battering its image in the windows of the WSSC office bldg at the south end of Swietzers Lane just west of the I-95 and south of rt. 198.  These adult ravens seem very used to people.
 
There continue very regular sightings of ravens along the rt. 32 corridor in western AA Co.  Since this pair has produced offspring in the past, we must assume that those younger birds will be looking for new nesting territories.  Ravens do not nest at one year of age...more likely 2 or even 3 years old.  So keep those report being posted.  Cell towers, bridges, and water towers are most likely potential nest sites...but who knows what they will like.
 
as a side note...we saw no Cliff Swallows today at the dam.
 
Jay Sheppard
Maryland City


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