For the past 13 years I have made multiple trips every year over the pass on Oregon Highway 26. On each trip I stop at the Government Camp rest area. The lot attracts many transient visitors and supports a population of Ravens. I tend to look upon these birds as once free beings forced to change their livelihood and live on the reservation. Sometime in the early years I took to leaving food for them. It is my way of doing the birds some good and quietly thumbing my nose at past intolerance.
The ancestors of the Ravens of Government Camp were creatures of the River or perhaps wolf birds. It’s likely they fed on the many dead fish along the shores of the Columbia, raided the nests of other birds in the area, and followed local wolf packs in search of a leftover kill.
I am reminded that the Ravens of Yellowstone work in concert with wolves to hunt their prey. Certainly the wolves will leave the remains of kills to the Ravens but the Ravens also lead the wolves to potential prey. Then they wait around until the wolves have fed to feast on the remains.
As their traditional ways of life faded the birds have adapted. They now follow humans and are quite adept at savaging leavings from picnic areas and trash heaps—and Government Camp is no exception. I don’t know if Ravens will lead humans to potential prey.
Three years ago my wife noticed that the birds would gather before I even exited our truck. They followed me over to the edge of the parking area and were on the little piles of cat food and peanuts before I was two steps away. In doing this they carefully kept behind my back and would quickly jump into the air if I turned.
Last year they were on the ground before I had left the first pile. They were so quiet that I didn’t notice them until I returned to the truck and was told by my astonished wife.
This year about a dozen birds gathered as I parked the truck and left to scatter my offerings. They were not quite as bold as they were last year, but were all over the small piles. I’ve been told that ravens and crows are the only two bird species that remember faces. I managed to get a few pictures of the crowd.
Note the sentinel bird on the sign above the rest. That one only came down after several others left to assume similar positions. The largest portions would be carried into the forest across the highway.
One bird brought an apple core to the party but lost it to another while picking at the peanut shells. The benefactor of the trade lifted the core directly into the forest. I hope it was deemed a fair trade.
I think that the bird in the center is dominant as he ruffled his feathers and strutted freely without challenge by any other birds. There were many challenges among the flock but I also watched a pair allopreening. They were very gentle with each other. I’m sorry that I didn’t get a photo of their actions.
Each year we stay for 45 minutes to an hour replenishing the piles and watching Raven society.
I wish them good fortune and wonder, if they were given the choice to live the old ways again would they choose to do so, or would they rather the society of humans? Until next trip. I bring the tuna fish sandwiches.