Raven spectacle - Boulder Co

[Peter Ruprecht]

COBirders,

Over the last month or so, there have been regular congregations of Common Ravens around Green Mountain just west of Boulder.  Earlier this week I was astounded to watch as many as 120 flying together at once north and east of the summit.  They clustered in groups of between four and 40, occasionally swirling together into one big kettle as they moved back and forth above the Flatirons.

We all know that ravens are aerobatic, often doing half rolls and hammerheads.  But some of these birds were taking things up a notch, doing a tumbling "backflip with full twist", flying upside down for several seconds, and even spinning down hundreds of feet while talon grasping.  And then there were the games of tag with sticks and fir cones.  I was in awe!

With all those birds around at once, the surround-sound vocalizations were also pretty dramatic.  It was a treat to hear so many of the clear, ringing calls that seem to be part of the ravens' Boulder dialect.

Over the last few years I have tried to be better about not just spotting and IDing birds but also trying to really experience them.  This group made me forget about everything else in the world while I was watching them.  You can't see and hear a spectacle like that and doubt that ravens have souls, and very playful ones at that.

Anyway, if you want to try to see this yourself, you could observe from below at Woods Quarry or get right in the mix from atop Green Mt.  I tend to see the most activity around mid-morning to early afternoon.  Usually there are at most a few dozen flying together, which is still neat to see.

Peter Ruprecht

Superior