TThe ravens are back, and they are displaying. A blue-sky morning with frost on the ground. They arrow in from west, returning to Ravenopolis, their huge forest roost in Malltraeth Bay (formerly, their home was in Siliwen forests between Afon Menai and Roman Camp). As they ascend to their ramshackle nest high above Allt Ddu quarry, rock walls amplify the creak of their wings. They have been flying back and forth to oak woods opposite, collecting sticks, heather stems, and weaving them in to strengthen their nests.
Derek Ratcliffe points out that ravens are generally thought to pair for life and that they can live to be between 25-30 years old. These two could be the ones I could reach within yards of my back yard years ago. They became comfortable with my presence, talked to me, and tolerated me near. Each morning, I would open my front door and offer food (my son liked meat so there would be bacon rind, pork fat, and chicken skin) and then call them. One or both would soon be there, swooping down in hissing pinions to seize the food. These birds were so beautiful that I imitated their speech and thought they understood me. Their strangely brown eyes met mine and they held my hand. I left the relationship after seven years, but I offered advice on how to continue the relationship.
Their aerobatic displays are always something to marvel at. Ravens are incredible flyersThey are particularly active now during display. They are very early breeders. An old Welsh gnomic verse speaks of red throats in ravens nests by February. This is the early end of this spectrum, but by mid March there are often eggs that have been hatched and parents birds feeding their young.
This coincides with the beginning of lambing. The afterbirths of many sheeps are left behind by the birds as they fly to the nest. This nutrient-rich diet is very beneficial for young birds. The quarry is buzzing with shouts of flying lessons by May, as another generation of these sagacious, wary birds have fledged and flown. On this clear winter morning, I called my parents. Kronk kronk comes the response, harshly and resonant through the still air.
