Ravens in Hollywood

Posted by ravens at October 11th, 2005

Saturday – ravens galore. Visitors to Barney’s Beanery should keep their eyes open. Maybe it’s the spirit of Sal Mineo. This was one of a pair seen in both the morning and the afternoon at LaCienega and Holloway. I’d gone back to take photos of where they *had* been, and they appeared right above me while I was framing a shot. The whole day, full of ravens, is detailed below. It’s not so much that ravens are in Hollywood as it is that Hollywood is in the Santa Monica mountains.

The whole day:
Early morning under a light marine layer and cool temps:
8 am.: pair of ravens eastbound over LaBrea and Sunset
9 am.: ravens at Sweetzer and Santa Monica Blvd (noticed while I was having breakfast at Eat Well)
9:15 a.m.: pair of ravens at LaCienega and Holloway. First noticed on street light, near a utility pole full of sparrows. One raven then visited a construction site (mostly empty, being cleared for foundation, so mostly dirt) while its buddy kept watch from the Enser building (the tall white building in the background – the empty lot is adjacent to the 7-Eleven)

The lookout then left its perch and glided over the construction site, turning as it did, and its friend on the ground took off to follow, and they both flew south-east (away from the hills).
The rest of the day, the skies were sunny and clear.
10:30 a.m.: Near Mt. Topanga, two ravens flying north at 10-15 m. above ridge, following ridge trail, itself at 1800 ft. They alighted for a few moments on a telephone pole before continuing on. Sadly, we were hiking the other direction.
5 p.m.: On returning to LaCienega and Holloway, ravens caught me taking photos. Same ravens as in the morning? Who knows. Ravens were there again the following Thursday (see L’chaim to ravens)
6 p.m.: raven soarcling above LaBrea and Sunset, slowly moving towards Cahuenga Pass.

Posted by ravens at October 5th, 2005

Following the mobbing observed in the previous post, I decided to follow the retreating ravens to Runyon Canyon to see about their evening habits. I parked off Mulholland to save time, and hiked out to Cloud’s Rest, the higher overlook at the end of Runyon Canyon Drive.

During that time I could hear at least one raven, but couldn’t see it. Finally I decided to pay more attention to the house at the end of the drive that sits atop the canyon, barely visible from the trails, but probably one of LA’s most expensive small houses.

One raven was indeed perched in a tree above the house. I took a lot of photos which I’ll post once the roll is developed. The raven moved after a bit, but really hadn’t flown away – when I got back to the house after a trip up a higher trail, it was on the roof, using the tip for some beak-cleaning.

After a bit, it moved into the large pine tree. I can only suppose it might have roosted there. My theory right now is that Runyon is the principal territory of one pair, who are very comfortable at the house, and who are among the ravens who visit Sunset Blvd. during the course of their day. There are not very many tall trees above Runyon, so this human residence also make a very good raven residence.

Posted by ravens at October 2nd, 2005

Above the 7080 Hollywood Blvd building, not crows playing in the strong, cool breezes, but about a dozen crows mobbing a pair of ravens at about 5 p.m. Ravens finally gained altitude and returned Runyon-wards.

Conditions cooling and sunny but hazy (typical LA).

Posted by ravens at September 23rd, 2005

This was an attempt, obviously not so successful, to contrast the appearance and size of crows and ravens.

Posted by ravens at September 23rd, 2005

Cahuenga and Sunset.
Late morning, sunny and warming.
Waiting for the bus after a visit to Hollywood’s thriving Sunday morning farmer’s market (not to be confused with L.A.’s landmark Farmer’s Market at Fairfax and 3rd), I noticed raven one approach and circle the CNN building, finally settling in the understructure of a big satellite dish. Raven two arrived soon after. So did my bus.

LaBrea and Sunset.
No sooner off the bus than noticed pair of ravens flying low, seemingly southbound, but as I watched, they worked to gain altitude over Sunset Blvd. and then began soarcling back towards the Santa Monicas.

I unloaded the two fat bags of plunder from the farmer’s market – bison and all sorts of fruit and veg – as I write six days later, I still haven’t finished it it all – anyway, I grabbed the camera, hopped in the car and drove back to the CNN building. Just made it too, since they had hopped down onto the big CNN logo and were getting ready to wing it.

They took off over Sunset (and me) and flew over the landmark Hollywood Athletic Club. More or less the same direction chosen by the other pair only minutes earlier.

I am beginning to feel that there’s a pattern of mid-morning visits to sites along Sunset, but of course my observations are limited by my routines. I will have to hang out more frequently on SB in the afternoon for a while. Thanks to the upscale trend in the area, this won’t be so onerous. I just wish my own stretch of Sunset would succumb to the trend!