Date: 4/7/25 2:08 pm From: Carla Kelly-Mackey <00001c24612ab4ac-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [JERSEYBI] Corvus species overlaps in central NJ
I love the ravens & am hoping they are nesting somewhere nearby. It's great to hear that they've expanded recently & are nesting in new areas. I'll be keeping an eye out. Thanks, Carla
Carla Kelly-Mackey
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On Monday, April 7th, 2025 at 3:55 PM, Doctor Science <science.dr...> wrote:
> Hi Carla! I remember you talking about Ravens living around you the last > time I posted about Ravens. I think we all tend to pay more attention to > them than to the rest of the Corvi that we haven't really thought about > how they're all fitting together. Keep an eye out as you see them around! > > On 4/7/2025 7:25 AM, Carla Kelly-Mackey wrote: > > > We're in the Rosemont Valley with a lot of open farmland around. Last year we had juvenile ravens pursuing adults for weeks, begging for food. A couple of weeks ago, I saw an adult raven fly past (low) with a twig in its beak, heading in the direction where the juveniles were initially spotted (heard) last year. Merlin doesn't even show us as being part of the migration territory for ravens, yet we have quite a population around. Is it possible there is a nest nearby? Pine Hill has cliffs & is very close. The Delaware is also not far. I know that isn't what you're asking, but I've been curious. We also have both fish & American crows, but I haven't paid as much attention to whether they're nesting nearby. Carla > > > > Carla Kelly-Mackey > > > > Sent with Proton Mail secure email. > > > > On Monday, April 7th, 2025 at 12:53 AM, Doctor Science <science.dr...> wrote: > > > > > Last Wednesday I was sitting on my back deck in northern Hopewell > > > Township (Mercer County), when in the course of 15 minutes I saw & heard > > > all three Corvus species: American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Raven. It > > > was a very educational compare & contrast! > > > > > > But it got me wondering: how do these three species sort out living > > > together these days? I say "these days" because Fish Crows are expanding > > > their range inland, so having so much overlap with AMCR is relatively > > > new. And CORA has only returned to NJ in numbers in recent decades as > > > farming has declined and the tendency of farmers to shoot black birds as > > > varmints has faded. > > > > > > I know that in my yard and surrounding properties the AMCRs are > > > permanent residents, I hear them most days. Ravens & Fish Crows are > > > occasional visitors, but shouldn't this be nesting season, with birds > > > sticking close to home? It may be these are young, unmated birds, out > > > looking for trouble while the older birds are nesting--it takes Corvus > > > 2-3 years to reach sexual maturity, and may be even longer before they > > > first breed. > > > > > > So, fellow central Jersey birders, what kind of ecological separation > > > have you been seeing between our three Corvus species? Are they > > > feeding/flying in similar areas, but nesting in different ones? I'm > > > talking especially about parts of the state that aren't close to any > > > large river or the ocean, nor the highlands. > > > > > > Poking around the scientific literature, there are some indications that > > > CORA prefers rocks, cliffs, buildings, bridges; AMCR prefers evergreens; > > > FICR deciduous trees; but those are statistical preferences, not > > > hard-and-fast rules. As for food, they're all opportunistic omnivores, I > > > don't know how much separation there is around here. Though I haven't > > > seen CORA feeding on roadkill, a common practice for AMCR. It's possible > > > Ravens think roadkill is just too dangerous. I haven't noticed any of > > > them joining vultures at big carrion-eating parties when a deer dies in > > > a field. > > > > > > - Mary Ellen Curtin > > > > > > List Guidelines: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > > > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > > > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > > > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com > > > List Guidelines: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com
