Common Raven

From CBCWiki

[edit] Range expansion in North Carolina

Common Ravens may historically have been distributed across North Carolina, but through most of the 20th century they were regarded as birds of the mountains. Pearson, Brimley and Brimley (1942) stated that "Formerly Ravens were now and then noted along the coast" and specifically mentioned sightings near Beaufort in June 1892 and on Knotts Island near the Virginia state line in November 1931. They summarized the status at the time as "Ravens are not numerous in North Carolina and apparently are today confined to the higher mountains."

In 1980, Potter, Parnell and Teulings (1980) described the species as being resident above 3500 feet (1070 m) but reported that post-breeding wanderers, probably young of the year, "wander into the lowlands, sometimes even to the coast." They further reported that "A number of recent low-elevation sightings, including the discovery of a nest at Pilot Mountain, N. C., suggest that the species may be on the increase in our region."

In South Carolina, with its smaller mountain region, Common Ravens are less common than in North Carolina. Potter, Parnell, Teulings and Davis (2006) state that "breeding birds returned to Caesar's Head State Park in 1986 after a long absence and hatched three young in 1987."

Since the early 1990s, there have been increasingly frequent reports of Common Ravens in the piedmont, and even the coastal plain, of North Carolina. Here is a summary of these reports by county in something of a west to east progression. This summary excludes reports of ravens at unusually low elevations along the eastern edge of the mountains or foothills, such as at Jackson Park, Tryon, Chimney Rock, Pilot Mountain, etc.

Catawba County: Dwayne Martin reported two ravens at Riverbend Park (near Hickory) on 6 October 2004. This was the first record for the park (carolinabirds, also Fall 2004 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:56). Dwayne also reported one at Bakers Mountain in the southwestern part of the county on 1 January 2005, and two at Riverbend Park on 23 January 2005 (Winter 2004–2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:83). In 2006, Dwayne reported seeing a raven fly up the river at Riverbend Park and described it as the first seen there that year, and he also reported that John Sutton had observed ravens off and on for "a couple of months now" at Bakers Mountain Park (Carolinabirds 27 February 2006).

Caldwell County: A raven was seen and heard at Granite Falls on 10 April 1983 (Briefs for the Files, Chat 47:110). Dwayne Martin observed two ravens on 26 October 2005 near the eastern edge of the county (carolinabirds, also Fall 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:32).

Mecklenburg County: A raven was observed on the UNC–Charlotte campus in late February 2002 (Winter 2001–2002 Briefs for the Files, Chat 66:102).

Iredell County: Tomm Lorenzin reported a raven near Lake Norman State Park on 30 May 2006 (carolinabirds, also Spring 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:103).

Davidson County: Two ravens were present near Lexington on 2 January 2002 in an area where one was seen the previous year (Winter 2001–2002 Briefs for the Files, Chat 66:102).

Rockingham County: In the summer of 1989, ravens were reported nesting and rearing three young in a rock quarry near Reidsville, and four ravens were seen and heard on the Rockingham County Christmas Bird Count on 17 December 1989. This remains the easternmost known nesting in the state (Fall 1989–Spring 1990 Briefs for the Files, Chat 55:18).

Forsyth County: A raven was observed on the Spring Bird Count (Fussell 1979) in 1978 (strangely, it was not singled out for note as a rarity) and there were sporadic sightings during the following year (Snavely and Mowbray, 1992). Two ravens were seen on the Winston-Salem Christmas Bird Count on 30 December 1989 (Fall 1989–Spring 1990 Briefs for the Files, Chat 55:18) and one was seen on the next year's count. Snavely and Mowbray (1992) discovered a nest on 22 February 1991 in the Vulcan Material Company Quarry near Winston-Salem. A photo shows the nest site near the top of a 250 foot sheer granite wall in the quarry. They observed hatchlings on 8 March and followed the nest through fledging in mid-April. In 1993 the quarry was reported as having hosted a nesting pair for several years in a row, who fledged 4 young successfully that year (Spring 1993 Briefs for the Files, Chat 58:66). In the winter of 1993–1994, 7 ravens were in the downtown Winston-Salem area and a pair began nesting (Winter 1993–1994 Briefs for the Files, Chat 59:36). Two nests fledged young in the county in 1995 (Winter 1994–1995 Briefs for the Files, Chat 59:178 and Spring–Summer 1995 Briefs for the Files, Chat 60:76). Three young were seen to fledge 14 April 1996 (Spring 1996 Briefs for the Files, Chat 61:64). Harry LeGrand reported a raven near Kernersville on 19 September 1997 (Fall 1997 Briefs for the Files, Chat 62:136). The quarry nest site was described as having been in use "for some years now" in 2001 (Spring 2001 Briefs for the File, Chat 65:153). Phil Dickinson (carolinabirds 9 February 2005) stated that ravens "still nest at the Vulcan quarry. We see them on almost all of our Christmas and spring counts near that site, and actually have seen them fly from the quarry. However, we have not spotted the actual nest for awhile. In Forsyth, for the past few years we also have had nesting ravens on a ledge of a building in downtown Winston-Salem. In addition, ravens have been seen near our two hospitals in the past year or two, but a nest has not been located. Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock Parks also are good places to see ravens; presumably they nest in the cliff faces in those parks." In 2006, Phil reported the downtown ravens building a second nest one building away from the first one, at the south end of a latticework and pipe that crosses 5th St. between two buildings at 5th and Vine (carolinabirds 30 March 2006). More recently another pair has been observed at the Archie Elledge wastewater treatment plant in Winston-Salem, about four miles from the downtown nest site (Phil Dickinson, carolinabirds 20 February 2007). John Haire reported seeing young in the nest at this site on 28 March 2007 (carolinabirds). Forsyth remains one of only two piedmont counties with confirmed nesting ravens.

Guilford County: A pair of ravens were reported apparently showing courtship behavior over a quarry in Stokesdale on 22 February 1993 (Winter 1992–1993 Briefs for the Files, Chat 58:29). Two ravens were reported at the Greensboro landfill on 26 February 1994 (Winter 1993–1994 Briefs for the Files, Chat 59:36). One was in Greensboro in late February 1995, and two were seen in another site on 11 February 1995 (Winter 1994–1995 Briefs for the Files, Chat 59:178). A raven was seen on the 1997 North American Migration Count in the northwest corner of the county, and was noted as being rare in the county (Burnette 1999). In 1998, up to four were present in downtown Greensboro, where on April 24 one pair was observed in courtship (Spring 1998 Briefs for the Files, Chat 62:196). These birds were still being seen through July (Summer 1998 Briefs for the Files, Chat 63:41). The Greensboro Christmas Bird Count on 18 December 2004 had an amazing count of 19 ravens (Winter 2004–2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:83). Gregg Morris reported one in downtown High Point the first week of September 2006 (Fall 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 71:24).

Caswell County: On 31 December 1971, James Coman watched two Ravens being harassed by Crows for several minutes near Prospect Hill in southeast Caswell County, just north of the Orange-Caswell line (carolinabirds 10 May 2005). Will Cook reported observing a raven in Virginia about 1/4 mile north of the NC border (Caswell County) on 28 July 2007 (carolinabirds 1 August 2007).

Person County: Harry LeGrand reported one heard calling around After Bay Reservoir in Person County 30 March 2006 (Carolinabirds 31 March 2006, also Spring 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:103), and also two seen at the Hyco River near the NC/VA state line on 7 April 2006, about two miles east of the 30 March report (carolinabirds).

Granville County: Clyde Sorenson reported one seen in northern Granville County 14 April 2006 (carolinabirds 15 April 2006). Frank Enders reported one at Occoneechee State Park, Virginia, only 5 miles from Granville County, on 25 May 2006 (carolinabirds).

Alamance County: Randy Emmitt reported a raven at Alamance Regional Hospital in Burlington on 2 August 2003 (carolinabirds). He reported that personnel at the hospital said that a pair was seen daily going to and from the gravel roof. Ricky Davis observed one in the same general area on 21 September 2003 (Fall 2003 Briefs for the Files, Chat 68:55). Clyde Sorenson observed one near Burlington on 8 March 2005 (Spring 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:117). Harry LeGrand reported one over I-40 near Burlington "several years ago" (carolinabirds 7 February 2005).

Orange County, Durham County, Wake County: In the late 1990s and early 2000s there was a flurry of reports in the Triangle area (roughly Orange, Durham and Wake counties). The large number of sightings in this area probably reflects the concentration of birders living there.

On 30 Sept 1995, Jeff Pippen and Will Cook heard a raven at the Eubanks Road landfill north of Chapel Hill (Orange County), and again at nearby Duke Forest on 2 November 1995 (reported by Mike Swaim, carolinabirds 10 May 2005).

In 2002, Brian Bockhahn reported a raven at Occoneechee State Natural Area (Orange County) on 1 March 2002 (carolinabirds, also Spring 2002 Briefs for the Files, Chat 66:112), and Will Cook reported a probable raven soaring over I-40 in Durham County on 26 October 2002 (carolinabirds 31 October 2002).

In 2003, Randy Emmitt observed one raven near Rougemont (Durham County) on 3 October 2003 (Fall 2003 Briefs for the Files, Chat 68:55). Ginger Travis reported a raven soaring over her yard 5 miles south of Occoneechee State Natural Area on 13 December 2003. (carolinabirds 15 December 2003, also Winter 2003–2004 Briefs for the Files, Chat 68:92), and Derb Carter reported several sightings in the area of Maple View Farm (roughly 1.5 miles south of Ginger Travis's yard) in that same month (Will Cook, carolinabirds 21 January 2004).

In 2004, Kent Fiala reported a raven flying over I-40 in central Orange County on 16 August 2004 (carolinabirds, also Fall 2004 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:56) and Charles Boyer reported two between Fuquay-Varina and Angier (southern Wake County) the same day (carolinabirds 17 August 2004) and again on 18 August 2004. Kent Fiala reported two over his house (about 0.5 mile NE of Ginger Travis's house) on 30 October 2004 (carolinabirds). Will Cook reported one over the campus of Duke University (Durham County) on 22 November 2004, and stated that Derb Carter was still seeing two near his house (carolinabirds, also Fall 2004 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:56). Derb Carter reported two on 12 December 2004 on NC 54 west of Chapel Hill at the entrance to the American Stone Company quarry, feeding on a road-killed opossum. (Will Cook, carolinabirds, also Winter 2004–2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:83).

In 2005, Rob Gluck relayed a second-hand report of two at Horace Williams Airport within the city of Chapel Hill on 31 January 2005 (carolinabirds 2 February 2005). Rob relocated ravens near this location on 6 February 2005 (carolinabirds). David Ross reported a raven on 13 March 2005 and again on 23 March 2005 off of Infinity Road in Durham (carolinabirds 16 and 24 March 2005). John Connors reported a raven soaring high above Durant Nature Park in north Raleigh (Wake County) on 10 April 2005 (carolinabirds). Shantanu Phukan reported a likely raven over his house in downtown Carrboro (Orange County) on 11 April 2005 (carolinabirds). Helmut Mueller reported one over his yard west of Chapel Hill "in the past 2 weeks" (Carolinabirds 17 April 2005). Mike Swaim reported one within the town of Hillsborough (Orange County) 8 May 2005 (carolinabirds 9 May 2005). Doug Shadwick reported one over Dairyland Road near Maple View Farm (Orange County) on 2 May 2005 (Will Cook, carolinabirds 14 June 2005, Also Chat 69:132). Haven Wiley reported two perched atop a steel tower of a high-tension power line on the west side of Carrboro on 29 June 2005 (carolinabirds 7 July 2005). Mike Schultz heard one near New Hope Creek (Durham County) 24 July 2005 (carolinabirds). Clyde Sorenson reported one over I-40 just southeast of Raleigh (Wake County) on 1 August 2005 (carolinabirds). Ricky Davis observed one in Research Triangle Park on 5 September 2005 (Fall 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:32). Kent Fiala reported one or two over his house (central Orange County) on 22 October 2005 (carolinabirds). Ginger Travis reported one over her home in central Orange County on 9 November 2005 (carolinabirds). Diana Davis reported 5 or 6 circling near the intersection of Guess Rd. and Umstead Rd. in Durham on 21 November 2005 (carolinabirds). Two ravens on a tower near Umstead State Park (Wake County) were firsts for the Raleigh Christmas Bird Count 17 December 2005 (John Connors, carolinabirds 19 December 2005). Most of these 2005 reports from carolinabirds are also noted in Briefs for the Files for Winter 2004–2005 (Chat 69:83), Spring 2005 (Chat 69:117), Summer 2005 (Chat 69:169), or Fall 2005 (Chat 70:32).

In 2006 reports became fewer, although this might be because sightings began to seem commonplace and not always reported. Brian Bockhahn reported two at Eno River State Park (Durham County) on 8 January 2006 (carolinabirds). Steve Shultz reported two over I-40 in Research Triangle Park (Durham/Wake County line) 22 May 2006 (carolinabirds). Brian Murphy reported one in Umstead State Park (Wake County) on 11 June 2006 (carolinabirds, also Summer 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:131). Ginger Travis reported one flying over her home 15 August 2006 (carolinabirds, also Fall 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 71:24). John Connors reported two at Durant Park, Raleigh, on 19 November 2006 (carolinabirds 28 November 2006, also Fall 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 71:24).There were two observations on the Chapel Hill Christmas Bird Count on 24 December 2006. Derb Carter found two near Maple View Farm, and Jane Brinkley observed two on Old Greensboro Road (Will Cook, carolinabirds 25 January 2007)

Reports in 2007: Dave Lenat observed one during the Falls Lake Christmas Bird Count on 3 January 2007 (carolinabirds 6 January 2007, also Winter 2006–2007 Briefs for the Files, Chat 71:48) at "the quarry south of Wake Forest off US 1". Dave Snyder reported one over I-85 near Hillsborough on 26 January 2007 (carolinabirds). Rick Payne reported a pair at Butner gamelands (northern Durham County) 28 April 2007 (carolinabirds). Brian Bockhahn reported one as a first record on the Falls Lake Spring Bird Count on 1 May 2007, at the US1 quarry (carolinabirds 26 May 2007), and reported that they were still present at the quarry a few days later (carolinabirds 4 May 2007). Later, he reported that he checked the quarry twice briefly into the summer and did not see breeding ravens (carolinabirds 11 July 2007). Ginger Travis relayed a second-hand undated report of a raven at the Timberlyne shopping center within the city of Chapel Hill (carolinabirds 5 August 2007).

Chatham County: Fred Houk reported one at Terrell's Mountain, just outside Orange County, on 4 September 2005 (carolinabirds, also Fall 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:32).

Moore County: Susan Campbell reported hearing a raven over her home in Whispering Pines on 29 April 2005 (carolinabirds, also Spring 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:117), and Wayne Irvin observed one at Southern Pines on 19 July 2006 (Summer 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:131).

Pitt County: Remarkably, there are a few records from this coastal plain county. Alan Meijer reported one at River Park North in Greenville (Pitt County) on 12 May 2005 (carolinabirds 13 May 2005). Veronica Pantelidis reported that one was present in the Greenville area from late June until at least 14 October 2005 (Summer 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 69:169), Fall 2005 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:32). Josh Southern reported one seen at River Park North on 26 April 2006 (carolinabirds, also Spring 2006 Briefs for the Files, Chat 70:103). One was again seen at Greenville 30–31 December 2006 (Winter 2006–2007 Briefs for the Files, Chat 71:48).

Conclusion: Common Ravens have been observed in the North Carolina piedmont in all months of the year, so it seems all but certain that the birds are not just post-breeding wanderers, but represent a sparse breeding population. Observers should be aware that nesting begins in mid-winter, and attempt to confirm nesting in more locations. Most observations have been in the northern part of the piedmont, so a similar range expansion seems unlikely in South Carolina.

[edit] Literature Cited

(Note: Briefs for the Files are referenced inline.)

Burnette, D. 1999. 1998 Spring North American Migration Count in North Carolina. Chat 63:48–82.

Fussell, J. O., Jr. 1979. Spring Bird Count. Chat 42:57.

Pearson, T. G., C. S. Brimley, and H. H. Brimley. 1942. Birds of North Carolina, NC Department of Agriculture.

Potter, E. F., J. F. Parnell, and R. P. Teulings. 1980. Birds of the Carolinas. UNC Press.

Potter, E. F., J. F. Parnell, R. P. Teulings, and R. Davis. 2006. Birds of the Carolinas, second edition. UNC Press.

Snavely, R. and T. Mowbray. 1992. Northern Raven (Corvus corax) Nesting in Forsyth County, N.C. Chat 56:59–61.