Six and Two Spare

Last week I saw an unoccupied raven's nest.
This week I saw ravens. It just keeps getting better and better! Although I was cheating (sort of).

I was at the Tower of London on Tuesday and I have to say, I was more excited by the raven's in the courtyard than by some of the exhibition itself.

Wherever you look, the raven has always been depicted as powerful or intelligent, and is a popular subject in mythology. They are often thought to be a symbol of bad luck or an omen, probably owing to their all black colouring and scavenging of carrion. These ravens, or more specifically, the residence of ravens at the Tower of London is essential or the Tower and Kingdom shall fall to foreign invaders.

Quite a big ask for six birds really.


The common raven or Corvus corax is one of the largest corvids. It is a relatively long-lived bird and can live for up to 10-15 years in the wild, or longer in captivity. They are larger and heavier than carrion crows, and have a bigger, darker beak with a wedge-shaped tail. They maintain the typical but beautiful glossy coat of other corvids.

They are opportunistic feeders with few predators, and range over a wide variety of habitats. They are of least concern to the IUCN but are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) making it illegal to intentionally kill or injure ravens, or to damage or remove their nests or eggs.

There were six ravens in the tower on Tuesday, plus two more 'backup' birds in captivity by the White Tower, or, as it was put to me; 'Six and Two Spare'.

Oh, and the other exciting thing at the tower, apart from obviously the centuries of history and stunning location?

Starlings! Flitting about all over the place making a lot of noise! 

Thanks,

Becky