I've noticed how they watch me. I've seen them out of the corner of my
eye. They even yell to me and then they're off for the next boulder or
fence post to watch my approach.
Friday I was riding through Hartman's on the way to bigger things on the
other side and noticed one hanging around. Then it was gone. A little
later when I had just finished a difficult loose climb and I was going
to take a break on the windy point I had just ascended. Something caught
my eye.
Then I see a shadow pass over me and the raven is back. He's just
hovering above the hilltop, seemingly only and arm's length away. I
watched as he made micro adjustments into the strong wind to maintain
his position. I almost think we made eye contact. He repeats what they
always tell me "Caw.".
Then I remember I have the camera in my pocket and grab it and start
shooting away. He continued to hover, slowly crossing over me, offering
the occasional vocalization and then lands on a rock. On the rock he
faces the wind and opens his beak to it, periodically turning an eye
toward me.
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or
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Then he spreads his wings into the wind, slowly lifts off and then peels
away and disappears into the hills.
I've asked a few friends and the ravens don't pay much attention to
them. So why me? I haven't been feeding them. Do I look like potential
carrion? Are they trying to tell me something? Whatever is it it always
seems to be delivered in a non-threatening or alarmed tone. Weird.
Matt