Winter 2011 Newsletter

Ravens In Wirral

Recent surveys of breeding and wintering birds in Britain have shown an increase in the population and range of the raven. The Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society (CAWOS) confirmed this trend during  surveys for its publication, `Birds of Cheshire and Wirral: a Breeding and Wintering Atlas`, published in 2008. This year, the Society has been carrying out another survey to establish how many breeding pairs there are in Cheshire and Wirral.

Raven mobbing a buzzard. Photo: Ed Samuels

The deep `kronking` call is often the key to identifying ravens flying overhead, but size – they are noticeably bigger than crows and rooks – and the large wedge-shaped tail can also separate them from other corvids. Crows and jackdaws will also mob ravens, and this also draws attention to them. In late October of this year, for example, a mixed flock of around thirty jackdaws and crows were seen mobbing a pair of ravens near Thurstaston, not far from where ravens have been seen displaying in the breeding season.

In the same area, a pair of ravens was observed chasing off three buzzards, and a photograph of this event, taken by Wirral Wildlife member Ed Samuels, shows quite clearly how big and powerful the raven is. The buzzards – another species which has shown a dramatic increase in its population and become a familiar sight across Wirral – were no match for these birds which must have been defending a breeding territory nearby.

We would be pleased to receive any reports of raven sightings in Wirral, particularly in the breeding season, which usually starts as early as February or March. Details of time, place and behaviour would be welcome, and all reports will in turn be passed on to CAWOS.

Raven. Photo: Wikipedia