Success!

Our cool spring has continued to limp along but finally we started having some warmish weather in late May. By now, even here on our cool island, we are dusting off the sandals and shorts but it is taking longer than usual to leap into summer mode. That is not true, however for the wildlife. The first batch of new robins with their fuzzy feather ears are hopping around in my garden and yesterday I heard the baby ravens screeching and watched them doing some very awkward flying. They are not close enough for me to determine how many young ones are in the air but it does mean success for the parents having a new batch of children this year. The pair in the photograph above are not the parents in my neighbourhood. They are Bert and Bernice, who have been photographed by Wendy Davis. She has recorded the pair and their offspring for many years capturing the ravens in intimate moments.  Some of her photos also record the antics that come with the curiosity of this highly intelligent bird. As I have stated before my neighbourhood pair will not allow me to photograph them so when I attempt a painting I often reference Wendy's photos. She captures many amazing moments of interactions and her close ups reveal the beautiful iridescent colours in the ravens feathers. Without her work I would rely solely on my eyes and memory. I have, however, seen the fine hairs under Big Boy's beak but it is Wendy's photos that remind me of the purple in his feathers. Both sets of parents are working very hard right now to protect and also push their young to adulthood. Summer is short and the brutal realities of winter are looming. By fall the young are on their own and from egg to fledgling to launching young ravens it is a perilous time of training for survival. The parents are merciless in their endeavours as  there are many dangers they need to teach their youngsters to avoid. Food is abundant now but they must learn to forage and utilize the natural cunning that they were born with. I wish them all luck and if this summer is like last year I'll get introduced to the latest batch very soon. I'll get to see some clumsy young ones chewing on the stolen recycle plastic, pooping in the garden and pulling out any plants that aren't covered. As for sleep... Luckily it only lasts about six weeks.