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Australian Raven |
Sightings
Australian Ravens (subspecies were regular visitors at the place where we lived from 2003 to 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales. They often took off with half or more of our chicken scraps, accompanied by sounds that resembled quite distinctively a human "harharhaaaaar"...
They are also one of the most common birds 20 km east of Narrabri; however, there they appear primarily in autumn/winter.
Together with Little Ravens, Australian White Ibises and Whistling Kites, one of the most common birds seen around the local garbage depot.
Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, New South Wales.
Seen by us also on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008, basically everywhere we went.
Spotted also basically everywhere in southern and central Queensland on a trip in July 2009.
Photos
Australian Raven in Sydney, New South Wales (click on image for larger version)
Australian Raven displaying its hackles (click on image for larger version)
Here an Australian Raven in flight
Immature Australian Raven 20 km east of Narrabri, New South Wales (click on image for larger version)
Nest
Australian Raven's nest 15 m high up in a treetop (click on image for larger version)
Different nest, with three chicks looking out over the edge (click on image for larger version)
Habits
Australian Ravens are the "highway patrol" in the birdworld. They fly along roads searching for roadkill, which, together with ants and Whistling Kites, they will clean up in a very short time.
They are very well adapted to the presence of humans in cities, but shy out in the wild. They often come in pairs in summertime and groups through the winter, one first checking out the terrain before the others approach. Even then one will probably remain high in a tree while the others forage.
We have seen an Australian Raven hustle an Australian Magpie, stealing its prey in flight. When the Magpie let go of the small lizard it had caught, the Australian Raven scooped it up in mid-air and then flew to a nearby tree to pluck it apart while sitting on a horizontal branch.