teenage bird brains

The blog title for today's piece was not meant to oxymoronic, as some might think.  I don't know the origin of the expression "bird brain" but it certainly does NOT apply to the Corvid family.  This intrepid bird family includes ravens, crows, jays, and magpies, and every last bird in the group is brilliant.  Since it is fledging time, we are seeing some outrageous behavior from the latest ravens to leave the nest as they become part of the outside world.

Like most birds that survive the fledging process, new ravens look almost exactly like their adult counterparts with exception of shorter tail feathers.  I like to call them teenagers because there are definite similarities to human teenagers.  Seriously.  Several summers ago, we saw two ravens playing soccer with a rock.  There were lots of rocks around but they were passing the same rock back and forth to one another, not missing a beat.  And like human teenagers, ravens are starving - constantly - and do not hesitate to make the fact known to parents who are keeping watchful eyes on their young.  They are insatiable!  And because they have a real sense of play and curiosity and have not yet learned to be completely leery, they are easier to photograph.

I mentioned their shorter tail feathers.  But the feathers on their heads sometimes give that just shaven, "buzz cut" look.  Check out the punk do on this raven.

And another view....

By now, you know I cannot resist details, and ravens' feathers are some of the most beautiful.  The color almost becomes an iridescent blue.

And finally, what a wild, abstract image they make.  There are endless layers of rhythm and design here.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image