Raven Abandonment

This has been a very weird week to say the least.  On Tuesday we went down town.  When we got home about 4 PM the ravens were in the redwood trees looking for a treat.  I went inside to make the bed and could hear them outside making little noises.  The shades were down in the bedroom so that I could not see outside and they could not see me but they KNEW I was in there.  About 4:30 PM my husband starts yelling that my car is on FIRE!  Sure enough flames were coming out of the passenger side wheel well.  He told me to call 911, which I did.  Since we live in the county this call would bring the Dry Creek/Lokoya Volunteer Fire Dept and the California Dept. of Forestry, but not for awhile.  So we got the hoses and sprayed water on the car.  About this time black smoke started billowing up from the burning tires and the ravens LEFT!  Smart birds- abandoned by my so called bird friends!
It was very nerve wracking until the volunteer fire dept arrived with the big hoses and lots of water and put out the fire.  We were afraid the gas tank would catch on fire and burn the house down as the car was parked close to the house.  The windshield shattered and started shooting pieces of glass- all in all it was a horrible experience but no one got hurt and only the car is toast.  Junky Cars is coming to pick up the car today.
It is raining, it seems appropriate to say goodby to my car.  Tuesday was a bad day for me and Toyota.  We have no clue why the car caught on fire.  I won't be getting another Toyota anytime soon.
I expect the ravens to arrive in about 30 minutes.  They will get steak scraps today and they will be very happy.

Sunny Days and Where is MY FOOD!

We have had a few half sunny days and what a difference it makes.  The daffodils have their shining heads held up to the sunshine and the ravens are looking perkier.  They are SO perky and pesky that they have been hanging around by my window all day- off and on.  This morning I was cleaning out the refrigerator and came across 5 chicken sausages past their prime.  I looked outside and could not see the ravens.  So I went outside and yelled really loud- RAVEN- RAVEN- and in about 2 minutes- here they came on the wing. Bold tried to line up the sausages on the deck railing so he could put as many as possible in his beak.  Bold got them perfectly aligned and was able to get 3 sausages in his beak at once.  Then Shy came and picked up the remaining two sausages and that was the end of the sausages!
When the sun is shining the world looks so fine.  The trees are leafing out, the miner's lettuce is abundant and the world is verdant.  I see soap plant poking its leaves up and fairy lanterns about to bloom- the forest is alive with native plants and the pugnacious Allan's and Rufous hummingbirds are passing through on their migration north.   Their golden bodies shine in the sun as they feed at the hummingbird feeders.  Ah Spring is in the air even though it is still winter.  There are still piles of ladybugs over in the sunny spot by the creek.  The ground and the tree limbs are red with their little bodies.  Sometimes I walk over there to see how they are doing.  I come back with ladybugs attached to my socks, pants and shirt.  I have to de- ladybug myself before I go in the house.  Such is the pleasure of nature in the almost Spring.

Rainy Days and Where is MY FOOD?

It has been raining every morning for a few days.  The ravens are out in full force each morning making all their raven noises for food service.  Yesterday I didn't feed them right at 7:30 AM.  I was sitting in the living room sitting by the fire and looking out at the rain and fog and what do I see but Bold flying back and forth in front of the big windows.  He wanted to make sure that I saw him.  Then Shy joined in with the flying back and forth.  It was quite the show!  It was then imperative that I get up and put out the two raw chicken eggs.  After that all was fine in the raven's world.
Late in the afternoon Bold arrived and sat on the sawed off redwood tree stump that he favors.  Bold started doing his displays of fluffing his head feathers, dipping the head, and raising the wings.  A pretty fine show it was.  For a reward he got a barbqued chicken breast.  What a boon- picked that up in a NY minute and was off with it to parts unknown.  A good day for raven and the sun had come out too.

Rainy Days and that Black Cat

This morning the raven was agitated.  I was having tea in the front room and I saw Bold flying back and forth in front of the big windows.  He was trying to get my attention.  I had not fed the ravens yet and they were HUNGRY!  I went out on the deck and discovered the black cat.  This cat lives next door with another black cat that looks just like him.  The owners are often away for long periods of time and the cats want some attention and food.  I do not want them at my house because they scare the birds and beat up on my old orange cat Andy.  So I yelled at the black cat to go home.  The cat is still under the porch and will not leave.  I do not want to put the eggs out as I do not want to put the ravens in danger.  So we will all have to wait for the cat to go home then life can return to normal.  Meanwhile it has not bothered Mr. Aggressive Squirrel who is out scouting for black oil sunflower seeds which I put on the ground this morning.  The juncos are after the seeds as well.  Bold has left but will be back later when I can feed him his egg and Shy too.
Yesterday I watched an old Sherlock Holmes movie which featured a pub called the Rat and the Raven.  The pub had a live raven sitting on the bar- he was making racket and people were throwing insults his way- is this any way to treat a raven?

Those Nosey Ravens

Every day the ravens have been arriving at 7:30 AM like clockwork!  They get their eggs and whatever else is available in the refrigerator-  left over meat, bones, fat of any kind.  They love it all!  This morning at 7:30 AM I was down in the studio working when they arrived.  I heard their calls and clicks and clacks.  I did not answer as I was too busy with my art work.  When to my surprise- here comes Bold- as bold as you please up to the door of the studio!  He found me and he was not happy- where was his food???  He looked in right at me- there is a thinking being behind those eyes- and they were thinking FOOD NOW!  So what could I do but get up, go upstairs and appease the beast with slices of left over roast.  Life is tough when you have a compliant human at your command!

BIG, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

I am sitting here at the computer looking down at Bold.  He is on the railing of the deck enjoying a can of cat food that Andy will not eat.  It is the expensive type with vegetables or some such thing good for diabetic cats.  Andy will not eat it but Bold seems very interested.  He is picking at it right now.  I can see him very well and he is BIG, BOLD and BEAUTIFUL.  His feathers are lustrous, shiny with a hint of purple, green and cobalt blue with the black.  His feet are very BIG and so is his beak.  I have not seen Shy today so I am wondering if she is on the nest now.  Shy usually shows up in the morning at 7:30 AM but I have not seen her for two days.  I will keep looking for her each morning. 
The Stellers Jay and the Quail are here eating bird seed that was scattered on the ground.  It is hard to find food in the winter months so we put out seed everyday that it does not rain.  The quail are so pretty with their top knot and varied feather colors.  The bird world is special to behold.  We just got back from Tucson and had fun watching the roadrunners.  Each morning when we got up a roadrunner would be running along the top of the concrete block fence.  His tail was wagging up and down and he was on a mission.  Very amusing and entertaining.
Bold is back and he is doing his showing off routine.  He puffs up his wings and moves his head up and down while he makes a particular sound.  He looks very large .  He likes to sit in the tree outside the window where I am working.  There is plenty of food on the rail for him to eat but he is not down there eating.  Instead he is right outside the window at my level.  I think he likes company.  I yell out the window periodically- HEY RAVEN- what's doing.  How are you today?  You are looking GOOD!  And that he is.

There is NOTHING like a RAVEN!

We returned home to the mountains above Napa Valley on February 1.  We drove up the driveway and started unpacking to try and beat the coming rain storm and what did I hear?  The raven call.  Within 20 minutes of our arrival Bold was sitting in the tree scolding us.  This was no ordinary squawking- this was- where have you been, where is my egg, how dare you go off and leave me squawking!!!  As soon as I could I got 2 eggs and put them out on the trail for easy pickup.  Bold and Shy came right away and picked up their eggs and flew off with them.
The next day Bold arrived at 7:30 AM, right on time.  The treat of the day was hunks of cheese.  I put the cheese on the deck railing.  I positioned myself behind the curtain so I could get a really good look at Bold when he came down to get the cheese.  I was shocked to see how BIG Bold is compared to the two crows in Shell Beach.  I didn't realize the relative size difference between the two corvid species.  Bold is really a very beautiful big black bird.  So I sing- There is Nothing like a Raven to the tune of There is nothing like a dame!  It is good to be back.