canberrabirds

Raven flocking

To: 'Ryu Callaway' <>, 'COG Chat' <>
Subject: Raven flocking
From: Philip Veerman <>
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2019 12:07:15 +0000
The calls of young Australian Ravens are different from adults. I don't know if 
the same is true of Little Ravens (probably is). That could be confusing but 
your ID is still probably right. If so, that is a particularly large gathering 
of Australian Ravens. But young birds starting to become independent especially 
if there is some good food around can be expected to form flocks.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ryu Callaway 
Sent: Sunday, 13 January, 2019 10:48 PM
To: COG Chat
Subject: Raven flocking

This afternoon I went for a walk over Wanniassa Hills and through Fadden after 
the cool change came through. At one of the higher points of the reserve, I 
encountered a group of just over 15 Ravens. Only Australian Raven calls were 
detected. I got a look at a number, which we all young birds - not helpful for 
ID. Nonetheless, I could not detect any obvious Little Raven calls.

I continued on my merry way, and coming back through Fadden, I estimated about 
80 Ravens - a group of just under 20 in the valley right near me, another group 
of 15-20 over open woodland in west Wanniassa Hills, and the remainder, a large 
group of 40+ over the more wooded eastern section of Wanniassa Hills which I'd 
just walked. They were all rather noisy and calls could be heard from all 3 
groups - again, plenty of definite Australian Raven calls, but not one call 
that I could say was a Little Raven. The flock in the valley landed in a tree 
near me - and of the flock, I could see only one that had white eyes, 
suggesting the rest were all young birds.

My understanding is that Little Raven is the flocking species in our region, 
whereas Australian Ravens tend to be in small groups.  My question: Is it 
normal to see large flocks of young Australian Ravens at this time of 
year?Perhaps young Australian Ravens behave differently?

I have found a Qld Gov page that refers to the formation of large roosting 
groups of young/unpaired birds. This is about crows/ravens in general and not 
Aus Raven specific.

Ryu



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