(no subject)

["Jack Hunter via Canberrabirds " <>]

G’day folks, 

Interesting one from Rock Valley, Tidbinbilla on Sunday. Two adult Ravens engaged in a coordinated attack on a nesting White Faced Heron, while two recently fledged Ravens watched and begged from the sidelines. The adult Ravens took turns distracting the Heron while the other tore at its feathers and dismantled its nest from below. The defending Heron managed to land a jab on one of the adult ravens who retreated to a higher branch and did not re-enter the fray. The recently fledged Ravens were extremely close to this scene, literally just beyond reach of the Heron, begging the entire time. No partner Heron was seen during this observation.

What struck me as particularly interesting is that these (I assume) same Ravens were recently nesting in the adjacent tree (not even a stone’s throw away) and looking directly down on the Heron, whose nest I did not notice at the time. I presume the nesting Heron’s activity was merely tolerated by the preoccupied Ravens until the pressure of feeding fledglings encouraged them to predate the eggs. Given how intelligent they are though, is it possible the Ravens were treating the Heron’s nest as strategic future cache, and merely waiting for it to ‘ripen’ and align with their increased demands? Purely speculative, of course.

Given the persistence, I would be very surprised if the Heron manages to hold the Ravens back for the entire length of its cycle.

Have a good one!

Jack H

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