Of ravens and writers
Posted by ravens at October 23rd, 2009
If California history balances like a teeter-totter between north and south, the fulcrum must be Monterey, the capital town of the colonial province. Ravens in Hollywood will be boarding the Coast Starlight soon for a trip north.
According to the Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide, ravens are very scarce between Big Sur in the north and the Pajaro River to the south. We shall see.
Robert Louis Stevenson has a Monterey connection as well, so our sister blog should be involved, time allowing. I’ll keep a running commentary on this topic in the comments section until the conclusion of my visit, and then write up a new post.
Slept 10 hours, good heavens. Have heard crows and jays from motel room. Being very lazy but must head out soon. I’d expect the shore to be one of the most likely places for ravens. This looks like a very clean city, so unlike LA, which is a mess of garbage and rubbish bins, there may not be the same urban foraging opportunities here.
ravens
Enjoy the fresh air! And be sure to check out the pinnipeds in the harbor — they’re awesome.
Celsius1414
Saw a seal and a sea otter already. Discovered the Wild Bird Center and bought absurdly expensive binoculars. OK they were moderately priced but I spent way more than I should have on my budget. The place is like Whole Foods for birders.
ravens
Lots of crows here, with lots of interesting crow voices. Already heard some new dialect. Two species of jay, lots of blackbirds. I’ve heard hawks but not really seen them. Alarm calls at one point gave me a good idea of the number of crows around. This region is not unlike Redlands with its tall trees, so it’s odd – you’d think ravens would love it here. Maybe the seabirds give them too much competition – but surely that would be the case in LA and SF as well.
ravens
Beautiful sunrise today. Motel room faces east. First avian voice of the day was a hawk, followed by crows. Looking out window I can see and hear crows dispersing about the neighborhood here on motel row (Munras Ave and Del Monte shopping center).
Yesterday I observed a pair of crows thoroughly inspecting a pine tree’s many cones – no doubt looking for tasty insects. Blackbirds at Whole Foods have slipped into the aggressive foraging niche usually occupied by sparrows, happily hopping right next to customers at the tables in front of the store.
Inspired by the author of Crow Planet, I have resolved to go everywhere with my binoculars.
ravens
Check this out, from “The Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide” by Jerry Emory:
The Pajaro forms the border between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and Point Sur is of course down in the Big Sur area south of Monterey.
http://books.google.com/books?id=3QXpSeUxooAC&lpg=PA276&ots=1bslehf79z&dq=ravens in monterey&pg=PA276#v=onepage&q=ravens in monterey&f=false
Celsius1414
That book is from 1999, by the way, though I don’t know for sure if it’s been updated with a new edition.
http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/8359.php
Celsius1414
Fortunately I saw that about the ravens in the book before I left, because otherwise I’d be really really puzzled! I suppose it’s similar to the no-crow zone in the Santa Monica mountains, but that seems easier to explain on grounds of habitat and foraging habits. The only thing I can think of is that Monterey was one of the first places inhabited by people with guns in California – maybe the settlers were wont to shoot at ravens. Then the local birds would have passed on the avoidance to future generations? This may also have happened in the Eastern US.
The very vociferous hawk was the first thing I heard again this morning, and I finally caught a glimpse of it too. Not very big but makes a big racket. Still puzzled by a hunting animal that makes so much noise. I suppose they have territories to defend as well. Yesterday while I was downtown, the pigeons and crows were reacting to something hunting, but I never saw it.
ravens
I seem to remember reading about some predator that uses its screeching to freeze its prey long enough to swoop and grab. Not sure if that’s the case here.
Celsius1414