Ravens in Hollywood

I’m always about testing the notion that you can’t go out in Hollywood without ravens around. Got resounding results today. It was supposed to be a trip to Trader Joe’s and back. I took the same route south as yesterday (Orange) - Radio Recorders also hosted Nat “King” Cole and the Beach Boys, I noticed - but turned west at Willoughby. This gave me a clear view of the sky above western Hollywood (not to be confused with West Hollywood) and in that sky were four ravens. Two were doing the “express glide” thing south east-wards, and two were soarcling lazily, and then doing a bit of acrobatics. The day had begun overcast and cool, but now the marine layer was burning off, the air warming rapidly - a good day for soaring birds. The two descended, and dropped out of sight near Melrose and Poinsettia. I decided to head in their direction, and before I knew it, they had taken flight again. One of them soon stopped in a very tall palm - fan palm I think - while the other contined low soarcling over the neighborhood west of Pink’s, on LaBrea just north of Melrose. Then again both were in the air, low over LaBrea, and the trip to Trader Joe’s was forgotten. The palm-sitter mainly just vocalized for ten or so minutes, spending only a little of the time attempting to reach the tiny datelets or whatever it is this species of palm produces. Its traveling companion did not return, and finally the raven took to the air again, and flew directly back to Runyon Canyon. Later, as I neared home, I saw two ravens flying above the canyon. This may be only one observation, but I bet over time it will become evident that these are foraging trips from the hills and back again. But that may only be part of a busy raven’s day.