Huge Raven in tallaght

dodderangler

Woke up few mins ago to the dog going mad. Before i Looked outside I heard a raven calling. He was on the wall annoying the dog but he looked more interested in my ferret. reckon if the dog wasnt there hed prob have a peck at the ferret. anyway Before I could get a pic he was gone. Havint seen one in tallaght before. Gorgeous bird. Told me neighbour and he seen it yesterday aswell. But he put it down as a fat ba5tard crow.
That's my 3rd raven I've seen this month.
Other two in Wicklow

Half-cocked

I've had 2 over Glasnevin on a few occasions. There must be plenty of scavenging for them in urban areas. I wonder if the decline in sheep farming has led to them moving into towns?

dodderangler

Well I know there was a pair in hueston station but then the peregrines moved in and havint seen em since. That was 4 year ago roughly

V_Moth

Half-cocked wrote: »

I've had 2 over Glasnevin on a few occasions. There must be plenty of scavenging for them in urban areas. I wonder if the decline in sheep farming has led to them moving into towns?

I think it is more a case of less persecution in urban/suburban areas. The same thing is happening in Britain and Germany, with Ravens returning to lowland areas which they formerly occupied.

As for the ferret, I don't think the Raven would have taken it - far too dangerous an animal to the bird. It probably views it as a competitor/predator and wants to drive it out of its territory (like Magpies will hassle cats).

Birdnuts

Half-cocked wrote: »

I've had 2 over Glasnevin on a few occasions. There must be plenty of scavenging for them in urban areas. I wonder if the decline in sheep farming has led to them moving into towns?

I think its more a case of an expansion in numbers leading to a search for new territory. Saw reports recently on Irish birding of at least 2 hanging out around UCD. Ravens did occur in Urban areas up till the early 19th centuary. The last pair bred in London around 1816. They've started to breed on the outskirts of the city again in recent years

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I certainly have seen an increase in Raven numbers in lowland areas over the past 6 or 7 years. There are probably, as in all things concerning wildlife, a variety if reasons for this. A more tolerant attitude towards wildlife is certainly one - gun clubs around here would once have had a policy of removing Ravens and Grey Crows, as they supposedly took young game. Farmers are more accepting as well and the vast reduction in poison laying has helped. I also think people have become more aware and curious, resulting in more reports of Ravens rather than thinking it was just another crow.
I love to be in the garden and hear that wonderfully distinctive gurgling croak - it seems to be audible for up to a mile. And that wingspan, as big as a Buzzard, is an impressive sight.

Marcus Halberstram

Saw\two for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago. Fabulous birds and very clever too.

Birdnuts

Marcus Halberstram wrote: »

Saw\two for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago. Fabulous birds and very clever too.

They are very smart allright - I've had them follow me when I'm out rabbiting with the dogs in the hope of picking up some scraps. They also follow large predators like wolves in the hope of profiting from their hunting efforts

olly_mac

I have observed a pair over the Kilmainham area in the past few months. I reckon they may be nesting in the Phoenix Park.

A wee bit off topic, but I have been seeing buzzards in the area too, so they seem to be expanding into the city too.

ThunderCat

If you are ever getting the ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard, as you dock in Fishguard be sure to look up at the cliff face above the harbour - i've often seen a raven or two up there.

ScumLord

Kaiden Bewildered Pigeon wrote: »

gun clubs around here would once have had a policy of removing Ravens and Grey Crows,

I live in the country and all corvids seem to be wary of a human with anything in their hands. Even if they see me point a camera at them they scatter. If I throw food out the back in an attempt to take photos they won't come down until I put the camera down.

baaba maal

This thread is great- I thought I was going potty seeing ravens near me outside Prosperous, and before that near Newcastle in Dublin. The funny thing is that I have only seen them at both locations in late summer/autumn- so my assumption is that these are young birds moving out of their range in the Wicklow mountains?

Desmo

baaba maal wrote: »

This thread is great- I thought I was going potty seeing ravens near me outside Prosperous, and before that near Newcastle in Dublin. The funny thing is that I have only seen them at both locations in late summer/autumn- so my assumption is that these are young birds moving out of their range in the Wicklow mountains?

Sounds right; or they are birds that have finished nesting. They nest very early (Jan onwards I think) and are finished by early Summer.

recedite

Half-cocked wrote: »

I wonder if the decline in sheep farming has led to them moving into towns?

....or maybe the decline in poisoned sheep is leading to an expansion of their population.