Photographing Ravens

[darkosaric]

I don't underestimate how smart ravens are. That is why I started this thread - they are the smartest and the most photogenic birds. I will try with a bribe - food for a photo , maybe it will work. Usually I am good with animals, I like and respect all animals.

 

[adelorenzo]

In my part of the world they are ubiquitous. One of our local newspaper photgraphers has been shooting them for years and has some amazing prints. So, come visit the Yukon you can shoot all the ravens you want!

 

[David Brown]

Here in North Texas we have a plethora of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). They are also solid black with black beaks and very similar to the raven. Maybe not as large, but certainly big birds. (Up to a one meter wing span) My wife calls them "the chickens".

We have a 2-story house with a pyramid shaped high pitched roof, and happen to be at the highest point in the neighborhood. So, the tip of our roof is the highest a bird can sit in the area. There's often one of the crows up there "cawing" away as he (or she, perhaps) surveys their domain. I've never tried to photograph them (not a wildlife guy). They don't stay in one place very long. They are beautiful birds and entertaining.

 

[cliveh]

Only the internet makes threads like this possible with interesting exchange of information throughout the world.

 

[RobC]

and now the BBC wants to get in on the act....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31795681

 

[Roger Thoms]

Look up Odlin's cove by Beth Moon. Won't help you locate them in the city, but some very nice raven images.

My thought too. Here's a link to Beth's website. http://www.bethmoon.com

Roger

 

[Kilgallb]

Tricksters all. I once saw two Ravens purposfully kicking snow off a roof on the heads of two people under the eaves.

 

[Sirius Glass]

In season you can find Ravens in football stadiums.

 

[Rick A]

As long as I do not have to eat crow or tolerate Jim Crow.

I kind of enjoy drinking Old Crow, whilst watching Old Crow Medicine Show.

 

[macfred]

I like to recommend the book 'Krähen' by Cord Riechelmann (Naturkunden No.1 by Matthes & Seitz / Berlin) http://www.matthes-seitz-berlin.de/buch/kraehen.html
It's about birds of the family Corvidae - crows and ravens are very simillar (ravens are bigger in size).
---
A friend of mine (he worked as a farmworker) once found an badly injured crow and he nursed it back to health - 'Peter' was it's name.
'Peter' -he lived in an aviary on the patio- was a constant and teachable companion to my friend for about 2 years.
One night 'Peter' vanished out of the unlocked aviary - my friend supposed Peter was caught by a fox.

 

[Jerevan]

I think there are ravens up in the walnut tree in our front yard - it is a pair of them. I am not totally sure though - they could be Saatkrähe (Corvus frugilegus) too.

 

[markbarendt]

I don't underestimate how smart ravens are. That is why I started this thread - they are the smartest and the most photogenic birds. I will try with a bribe - food for a photo , maybe it will work. Usually I am good with animals, I like and respect all animals.

The best bait I've seen for ravens and crows is road kill.

 

[johnnywalker]

What is the difference between a crow and a rook? I always thought "rook" was an English word for crow.

Almost any large mostly black corvid will get called "a crow", and I still can't reliably distinguish a carrion crow from a rook in flight.

Hooded crows are very infrequent in the UK, sufficient to provoke a twitch when one does appear. They are rather handsome

 

[pdeeh]

What is the difference between a crow and a rook? I always thought "rook" was an English word for crow.

As I say, "crow" is often used just as a term for any old black Corvid.

But the Carrion crow (Corvus corone corone) and Rook (Corvus frugilegus) are distinct species. The crow is a bit bigger and heavier, jet-black and with a heavier quite curved bill; while the raven is a lighter bird, with a more dagger-like bill. Rooks tend to gather in larger numbers than crows. There are also some more subtle distinguishing features such as the height of the crown and the feathering on the legs that someone who knows what they're doing can pick. (I'm not one though)

Corvids are quite long-lived and grow relatively slowly from juvenile to full adult, so it's easy to mistake a young crow for a slightly older rook.

Generally I can only be sure I've seen a rook if it's obviously got an apparently grey bill - adults lose some feathering around the base. Otherwise I assume I've seen either.

Wiki is quite good on birds, and the rspb.org good for British birds if you want more.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What is the difference between a crow and a rook? I always thought "rook" was an English word for crow.

A crow is a bird and a rook is a chess piece.

 

[tedr1]

In England a rook is a chess piece AND a member of the crow family having the distinctive pale beak. The place rooks gather is a rookery.

 

[pdeeh]

Strictly speaking, a rookery would be a communal nesting site for the breeding season in a wood or spinney; a place where they gather to roost (often in company with other corvids, though ravens are a bit standoffish) is just called a roost.

 

[blockend]

If there's more than one crow they are rooks, if there is only one rook its a crow.

Corvids exhibit some very strange behaviour, including holding a "parliament" where one is "interrogated" by a circle of birds, generally before being pecked to death.

 

[cliveh]

There is a raven nest about 500 yards from where I live. I see one or two regularly when walking the dog, but have never thought of photographing them.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Hi,

Recent thread about Hektor lens and duck/goose jokes reminded me that I wanted to ask one question for some time: and this is how and where can one find ravens in the city?
All birds like pigeons, ducks, chickens and so on are not afraid of people and I can get really close to them. But ravens no. They are always too far, flying away quick, and I don't see them often.
I find the ravens very photogenic, so any tips how to proceed?

From equipment I have nikkor 200mm f4 and Leitz 135mm Hektor, so I can not be very far away.

Thanks.

Ravens have this iridescence about their feathers, not easy to capture.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

If there's more than one crow they are rooks, if there is only one rook its a crow.

Corvids exhibit some very strange behaviour, including holding a "parliament" where one is "interrogated" by a circle of birds, generally before being pecked to death.

"A murder of crows."
And the North American bluebird is the smallest corvid.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

As anybody seen Beth Moon's Odin's Cove series? Her platinum prints are gorgeous.

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[macfred]

...
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Beautiful photographs - I adore !

 

[darkosaric]

Don't want to open a new thread, finally some good news about Ravens book from Fukase: reprint is available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravens-Masahisa-Fukase/dp/1910164836

 

[jtk]

Visiting a ghost town in New Mexico, a kindly fellow offered us free lodging and breakfast.

He'd made a lamp from an albino raven. I asked why? He said something about it being amazingly rare, and a challenge to shoot from 300 yards with his 25.06 Ruger rifle.