Raven flocking

[Michael Lenz <>]

Ryu,

certainly good numbers of Australian Ravens and an interesting observation. Big gatherings are usually associated with a good food supply, e.g. many cicadas. See for example Sandra Henderson's Note in CBN 40(2) 2015, 197-198, of many hundred ravens feasting on cicadas at Callum Brae. If an area has e.g. several kangaroo carcasses A Raven groups will also gather at them  (as happened a couple of years ago at Mt Ainslie) etc.

I suspect there is at times a raven roost somewhere near the Federal Highway North from Watson. It appears mainly young birds visit it and spread out in the morning and then appear e.g. at Lyneham Ridge and elsewhere. And flocks of A Ravens can also turn up in normally Little Raven country, e.g. at Lake Bathurst etc. (and vice versa, of coruse).

Michael Lenz

On Sun, 13 Jan 2019 at 22:47, Ryu Callaway <> wrote:

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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