Ravens in Yosemite

This past week we visited Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake and Yosemite.  Mono Lake was very interesting with the tufas- limestone structures formed underwater.  They are now sticking out of the water due to the large amount of inflow water to the lake which had been diverted to Los Angeles.  The inflow of water to the lake has now been partially restored, however it will take 25 years for the water level to reach the 1965 lake water level.  Mono Lake was the subject of a very large law suit against the Los Angeles Water District- do you remember all the bumper stickers in the 1980's- SAVE MONO LAKE?  I am so glad they saved it. Kudos to Audubon Society and others.

As we entered Yosemite National Park a pair of ravens flew overhead.  That was a very good sign for our vacation.  We also saw ravens flying in the high country up at 9998 feet- so they are everywhere.  I do hope they go down into the valley in winter where food would be more available.    On our return trip through Yosemite National Park we stopped at the park gate to show our park pass.  (By the way- if you are 62 years old you can get a park pass for $10 that is valid in any National Park.  It is good until you kick off- a really good deal.)  At the gate were two very large and sassy ravens.  One was on the roof of the ranger building and the other was on the ground by our car.  A ranger came along and I told her I was admiring the raven pair.  She told us that they stay there all year and the one on the ground is called Bird Dog.  They looked very well fed and up to no good!

We are continuing to watch Raven Tales on the Smithsonian Channel.  These tales are based on indian stories from the First Nation people of the Pacific Northwest.  We are really enjoying these tales and raven is the trickster.  He is lazy and up to something!

I have commissioned a raven hex sign for the space above the garage door.  Kathy, who is a very talented painter, is going to design a raven hex sign for us.  I am very excited about this.  My Pennsylvania Dutch relatives in Lancaster County, PA, had these hex signs on their barns when I was a child..  I always admired them and now I will have one to keep the evil spirits away!