Ravens

On our daily lunchtime walk, Kate and I walk down an alley between parking lots in downtown Anchorage. Today as we approached the parking lot at the Architecture firm where my former daughter-in-law used to work, (whew,) we saw a silver pickup filled with ravens. Ok, there were 8 ravens on the roof and in the bed of the pickup. I said, "I'm betting on dogfood." Sure enough when I walked up to the truck the ravens, complaining loudly, decamped to the edge of the nearest roof. When I looked into the back of the truck I saw a previously unopened 40 pound bag of Pedigree dogfood. Unopened until the ravens spotted it. They had pecked open a large hole and were happily gorging themselves until we interrrupted. As soon as we walked away they swooped back down to lunch. On the walk back to the office 4 or 5 more ravens passed overhead flying down the alley to the gathering. I know the owner of the dogfood won't be happy but I've always liked the smart feathered thieves.

The Eagle Has Landed

While checking the front yard for moose I noticed a couple of birds in a tree across the driveway. The one in profile was a raven but the one with his back to me was slightly smaller and had a different body shape. Before I could grab the camera the raven took off and what turned out to be a hawk jumped after him. The hawk made one harassing pass at the ravens head and then they flew off into the woods. But at the far end of the property I noticed an eagle sitting high in a tree watching the other birds. He stayed long enough for me to snap a couple of quick pictures. Today is just as gloomy and the light is flat as it's been all week so the picture is not very good.