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Thursday, February 19, 2004 Corvus Corax Rules    Big deal right, two birds in a tree? Not any two birds. Check out the size of that Raven. Sure, he's smaller than the adult bald eagle, but not that much smaller. And if he were perched with his chest forward and his plumage fluffed like ol' baldy the size difference would be even less noticeable.      Some of the biggest Ravens in the world call Alaska home. They can weigh up to three and a half pounds, which is pretty damn big for a bird. And a Raven is probably the only bird up here who has the chutzpah to share a branch with a bald eagle. (Look at ol' baldy giving him the disapproving eye, while Raven is evidently not concerned in the least). In fact, the two will often cooperate at carrion, feeding right along side each other.      Ravens thrive in winter. In the bitterest cold on Alaska's North Slope where temperatures plummet to -40 the only thing you'll hear if you happen to be outside is the caw and chortle of Raven.      Ravens are also wonderfully acrobatic when they play. Master works on the thirteenth floor in downtown Anchorage and right outside his window juvenile Ravens will soar for hours, playfully locking their talons midair and twirling toward the ground. Then they'll pull apart, glide heavenward on an updraft, and start all over again. Perhaps no one other than Bernd Heinrich is more enamored of Ravens than Master. They're probably the smartest and most widely adapted of all the avids, and you thought they were just big crows -- ha! And yet they're scavengers. Go figure. 12:38:38 PM    Comments disabled © Copyright 2008 Rufus. Nonsense, distribute widely and freely! Last update: 7/26/2008; 10:40:27 AM.			Readers Amused       Home About Me Airedale Philosophy How this all got started       FAQ What's an Upright? Upright: noun : a by and large bipedal companion, also referred to as a human being. What's a Cheechako? Cheechako: noun : a person new to Alaska who has come with the intention to live here. Who's Master? Master: pronoun : just the finest upright on the face of the earth, that's who! To read him is to love him. What's Dogdom? Dogdom: noun : Life's venue from a dog's point of view. What's a Sourdough? Sourdough: noun : A long time Alaskan who has an automatic suspicion of cheechakos. What does Outside mean? Outside: noun : A provincial reference to somplace other than Alaska; usually the lower 48. What's Breakup? Breakup: noun : A uniquely Alaskan season between winter and spring when the snow and ice begins to melt for good. Where is SquareBanks? SquareBanks: slang : A self-evident euphemism for a place widely known as Fairbanks, AK. Where can I read the Houston Trip? Houston Trip: vignette : Here What digital camera do you use? Camera: hardware : Canon Powershot A80 (4.0 MP) Who's Mom? Mom: Hottie : Have A Look What's a Squeakamunka? Squeakamunka: noun : your ordinary gray squirrel which can be seen everywhere in our Cleveland neighborhood! « Alaska Blogs »  Stories Fiction Boy Wonder Bat Girl Objects in Mirror Are Larger Than They Appear Used To Be Fish Skin Deep Essay Life Is Good Desert Nostalgia A Voice of Reason Fictional Four Realms of Darkness Poetry Lucky Chain  The Cycling Pages 1999 Canadian Tour 2000 Tour of Alaska "Yooper" : 2001 Tour of WI/Michigan UP 2001 Spine of Italy Tour 2002 Tour of New England 2004 Tour of New Zealand (coming soon!) 2005 Tour Of Nova Scotia Conways Game of Life (needs java plugin) Sometimes Interesting Billy Greg (Hiatus) Virginia Postrel Wendy McElroy Samizdata Atlantic Monthly Reason No Treason Slashdot Derke Lowe Heather Champ (Photo blog) T.C. Boyle Liquid Generation Improved Clinch Exquisite Corpse, A. Codrescu Fred On Everything Assymetrical Information The Daily Ablution (Hibernation) Lileks Frank Kelly (Hiatus) Up In Alaska