I had a Halloween encounter today.
With a raven.
Photo. Julian Robinson.
A pair of these huge beauties have been hanging around my neighborhood all summer.
I thought they were crows.
Until today.
Crows have a different shaped tail, and travel in larger groups.
Getting ready for the time change this weekend, I’ve moved the morning dog walk back to about 10 a.m.
It is really quiet here at that hour. No morning commuters or school buses, too early for the lunch break at the local convenience store.
Quiet.
This guy caught our attention with a deep- throated whistle as he perched on a fence post. We stopped, exchanged a glance, moved on.
As we rounded the block, he showed up again, this time on a front lawn, making a very different guttural sound, seemingly aimed at us.
Just then, a black hearse came up the street. No real surprise, since there is a funeral director who lives nearby.
And then, a pickup truck, towing a black sedan. The raven flew over, flapping his huge wings, joining his partner on a nearby rooftop.
Curious and curiouser.
Happy Halloween.
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Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!
quit the bust above my door!
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
Edgar Allen Poe. 1845
vanbytheriver 
Oooooh, that is quite unsettling! Aren’t ravens supposed to be the harbingers of death?
I always thought so, Judy. It got my attention today. Thanks.
Creepy!
Kinda creepy & cool at the same time. I think animals operate on a whole different frequency than we humans do…yet we consider ourselves the ‘higher’ species?
Not my first bird encounter, Peg. No doubt, not the last either. Thanks.
Yes… you just have to pay attention to what the animals are doing sometimes. They are easily overlooked.
I notice their antics, more and more all the time, C.
Real events?
Absolutely. I have this strange history with wild things…birds, squirrels, rabbits, mice, deer, etc. I spend a lot of time outdoors.
Interesting.
Van, I need your feedback on Clinging On. Please.
Will do…I have to go back to the earlier chapters.
I do love ravens 🙂
Elegant and scary, all at once.
I have never found them scary… they are so intelligent and aware…
Creepy. Perfectly thematic for today. Plus Lewis Carroll & Edgar Allen Poe in one post? Too cool for school.
It did seem timely. Thanks, Ally.
And that “curiouser” line is a favorite, thanks for noticing the Carroll reference, Ally.
I’ve been a fan of Alice in Wonderland from the first time I read it. One can never quote it enough, imho. 😊
What says Halloween better than a quote from Poe? Do ravens make the same sound as crows?
Apparently not, Rob. Crows make more of a “caw” sound. Ravens go deeper, and in captivity, can mimic sounds of other animals, even some machinery. Interesting ?
Very interesting. I’ve heard that crows are very intelligent. Maybe the ravens are as well.
…goosebumps! Seriously!
I know…I have some errands to run, but haven’t left my house yet…cautious ??
Ravens, undertakers, and hearts, Oh My….
Another favorite…thanks for the Oz reference, Bernadette.
These are indeed spooky goings-on’! Van, all I can say is if Vincent Price turns up around the next corner—surrender your candy. Happy Halloween. 😀
Ha ha…will do. Thanks, Paul.
😀
We have many large black birds, wonder if they are ravens!
If you google raven vs. black bird vs. crow…there are images that show the difference, Lynn.
I need to!
Oh, wow! Not a very comfortable feeling. Reminded me of “The Birds”.
We do have large flocks of birds around here, they swoop down on the lawn and take off, just as fast. Very Hitchcock-like.
Very “halloweeny”!!
I think that’s so cool, Van, and perfect for the season. Ravens are very intelligent birds!
And apparently, the word “ravenous” makes sense…I’ve seen this pair take apart local roadkill, in a matter of an hour or so.
Ew. Ha ha. Just adds to the Halloween mystique!
That’s definitely a Halloween encounter to remember! Neat share 🙂
Thanks, Joey. I think it spooked me, a few hours later, I was out and locked my keys in the car. I was not being “in the moment”.
Oh drats.
Serendipity…:) Somewhere. Poe is smiling…:)
His influence has endured, George. Thanks.
It has..I always enjoy picking up his stories and reading them. They never get old.
Creepy and cool. Great post, a raven, perfect for the season. And often a black crow at your door portends death. In this case – Halloween. 🙂 x
They have been hanging around on roof tops all summer, this was a much closer encounter, Deb. Thanks.
Poe reincarnated? Lol 🙂
Ha ha…maybe ???
Wonder what they are thinking when they stare at us?
I don’t know, DK, but not sure I really want to know.
Laughing…
I believe the encounter was quite timely for the ‘holiday’. And fortunately you put it to good use with this post!!!
The inspiration in every day things, C. Thanks.
🙂
According to Medicine cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson Raven means Magic. There’s a poem in this book that says… Raven black as pitch mystical as the moon, speak to me of magic, I will fly with you soon. So no it is not a harbringer of death. You have magic coming your way, Van! How exciting! Way cool! Happy Halloween to you! 💕🎃💕
Yes. Magic…love that, Amy. And I’ll be watching for it. Thanks so much.
You are more than welcome.
Goodness that was a unique experience. Unfortunately I could not tell the difference between a crow and a raven. 🌼
I know, I had to look it up. Pretty good online images to compare, Brigid.
My goodness, I hope Alfred Hitchcock’s birds have not come to your neighbourhood, Van. It reminded me so much of his movie ‘The Birds.’
Ravens also guard The Tower Of London. It’s said that if ever they all leave, then London shall fall.
I wonder what food source keeps them by that tower, Hugh ?? We live by the woods, along a river…so many creatures here. The geese outnumber them all.
They get fed by the Yeoman Warder guards (or Beefeaters as they’re more commonly known as). They believe the curse of London Falling is a true one if the Ravens leave, although I don’t know the origins of it, Van. I’ve only visited The Tower Of London twice, and it’s mentioned as part of the tour.
Interesting stuff. Thanks, Hugh.
Check out this Native American legend of the raven Van-http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/npe/culturalatlases/yupiaq/marshall/raven/RavenStealsSunStarsMoon.html. Your post reminded me of it. I heard it on the show “Northern Exposure” years ago and never forgot it. Happy Halloween!
Thanks for the link, Ilona. Interesting legends.
Maybe it was just a Halloween costume. It was probably just a robin redbreast! 😀
Ha ha…good call, Doc.
Love to have Ravens visit, they only come rarely, and I take note when they do.. Something is about to be transformed as you shed the old, to make way for the new..
We had three collared Doves on the bird table yesterday, until the pigeon blustered in on them.. I am always watching birds..
I hope you had a lovely Halloween Van
Have a beautiful weekend.. xxx ❤
We have many mourning doves around, always sweet. Had a quiet Halloween, Sue. You enjoy the weekend as well. XOX
🙂 ❤
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How very spooky.
I know, sure was to me, Vinnie.
I would have been a little creeped out.
I do think it rattled me a bit, later that day, I locked the keys in my car.
I’m not easily spooked, but something like this is extremely eerie.
It’s the great thing bout dog walking. You just don’t know what you might see and Ravens are great…
The pups are good for a human adventure, for sure. Thanks for the visit and comment.
Oh, lucky you! I think that ravens are amazing; they are incredibly clever and mischievous. You can leave them food if you want them to stick around, they learn very quickly! I did that with some crows at work and they come visit me every day now. 😀
Fascinating! Thanks so much for the visit and comment.