The Ferocity of Flight

 

The full-throated Chase

The Patrol

After the period of relative calm as new beaks were bred and born, I have noticed an increase in aggression between raven neighbors. Sunshine, having broken free of nest sitting, seems particularly active in reasserting the Grog family's territorial rights. She seems ready to take any raven on and this morning gave the El Moros a run for their airspace. Of course, Grog was there to back her up but looking less agitated. I think Sunshine's rugged appearance with her perennial missing feathers reflects her courage and resolve in ravenomics ie. managing Grog resources--food and territory.

Likewise the El Moros, I noticed pushing into Inkling territory, their raven neighbors to the south of them. For most of the breeding period, the El Moros stuck close to the nest and appeared even wary of my presence. Their personalities seemed so altered that I wondered at times if they were different ravens. It was as if their only world was in relation to each other, he increasing his dominance while she acted the weak young thing by adopting a higher, more youthful voice as she begged from him and fluttered her wings.

Today, there was no timidity in sight as both El Moros fought the Inklings over a fish. They swooped at each other, dive-bombing fiercely. If ravens weren't as quick and deft in movement as they are, I imagine they could kill each other with a beak fast as a speeding bullet. Last week, I happened to be close to Grog when he was being attacked by a crow's dive-bomb. The whizzing speed of the crow's blitz was not only impressive but almost frightening. I wouldn't have liked to have been the crow's target. A raven's greater weight and longer beak would make his dive-bomb doubly devastating.

I have read that birds have no fear of the void. The way ravens wield the air, I believe it.