April 16th

It was a very early start today for us, because I had to go and collect something before the rush hour started.

So we left the house at 6.40 a.m., with a few faint raven calls in the distance. It was still cold, but not as horrible as yesterday, and the sun was starting to appear behind the clouds.

After the usual long walk round, we came to the virtually empty ravens field. Sophie had a little run in the bottom enclosure, and then we walked up to the ravens enclosure, where I closed the gate and fiddled around with a piece of wire to have it stay closed.

Walking round, throwing a few scraps and making Miss Sophie sit on command, for a reward, we had gone three-quarters round when one single raven appeared. 

So - they are around, but don't arrive in pairs any more. 

It was one of the young pair, from his typical, skittish behaviour, but he had seen where the scraps had gone and picked them up.

This time, he flew straight back to where he came from, without making holes in the ground to hide his food.

Therefore I assume that all my ravens are working hard to feed the new hatchlings, which must be their siblings, having the same parents. 

All corvids (raven birds, e.g. ravens, crows, magpies, jackdaws, rooks) do this until they become sexually mature at around five years of age and start their own families.

So - a much earlier start seems to be indicated for the weekend, to see if one or the other raven will also appear.