Sybil Erden – October 10, 2007

^{Although we generally think of "the animals we live with" as our pets or our farmed animals…we in the rural Southwest are extraordinarily fortunate to cohabite with many species of wildlife. Here in Cascabel, in the 7 years I have been here, I have seen javelina with their babies, fox, coyotes, little ground squirrel, as well as a black bear loping through the back of our property. There are five different types of bats living here. Overhead or passing through we are privileged to see eagles, hawks of all varieties, various owls, smaller song birds, and the occasional egret flying down the driveway. Then, of course, there are some of my favorite birds --- the intelligent and amusing ravens.}

^{Our property was once a working pecan orchard. In order to have a complete harvest, the former caregivers had to keep wildlife out of the orchard. They set off sound cannons with regularity. They set traps. They were at war with the birds and ground creatures.}

^{We, however, have been encouraging the return of the animals. The birds, in particular, have decided that we are indeed their Oasis.}

^{When we first arrived in September of 2000, there were over 100 ravens living in or near the orchard….but they had learned that humans meant danger and would fly off at our approach. By the next year and the one following, the ravens were learning that not only were we not a threat, but the food we brought the parrots in our care were an additional bounty for them, as the messy parrots threw seed and fresh foods onto the ground. The young raven fledglings would hop around us, begging for food.}

^{By the spring of 1994 there were about 200 ravens who flew overhead, gliding on the currents, cawing and clowning in the pecan trees.}

^{But that summer brought disaster in the form of a virus called West Nile Virus which was carried by mosquitoes. Although parrots were particularly immune to the disease, that year wild birds fell from the sky, twitching and dying before our eyes. By the autumn only three years ago there were only three ravens left in our orchard.}

^{Within a year the birds who had survived, those fortunate enough to have some natural immunity, began gathering in the orchard. By the end of the summer of 2005 there were about 20 birds living here again. By the end of last summer, 2006, there were 50 or so birds, many forming successful breeding pairs.}

^{This year there was a population explosion. Although we know that many of the birds were born in the cliffs across the river from here, we suspect that other survivors and their offspring migrated to the orchard as the food here is plentiful.}

^{The orchard has become what is known of as a "juvenile roost." In the evening younger ravens, unencumbered by parenting, come together to flock and sleep in the orchard. Here they find mates and display their spectacular athletic abilities, sharing with us earthbound mortals their celestial bonding flights and dances.}

^{And on the days at this time of year, when the weather conditions are just right, there are once again hundreds of these incredible creatures gliding and flying and playing on the currents, cawing their unbounded joy, their contentment and their freedom.}

 ^{Send your questions about anything animal related to oasisbirds@hughes.net}