Thursday, February 21, 2013

corvus


Corvus corone corone probably followed along with the people who came here after the ice melted 12,500 years ago, mainly because it isn't a woodland bird and these islands were originally covered with forest. They prefer clearings with woodland nearby.  As the settlers cleared the forest the habitat became suitable for the carrion crow, so we're old mates really. Why the double corone?  I don't know. Caro - latin for meat. Carrion - dead and rotting flesh. Coroner. Corona - crown.

Crows are able capable of using  tools.  They are very intelligent and are known to live to be twenty to thirty years old, whilst a crow kept in captivity has been said to be aged about fifty nine. In Australian myth the crow is a trickster. In the flood myth part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim releases a dove, a swallow and a raven to find land after the world has been flooded, but the dove and the swallow eventually circle and return. The raven doesn't return, which he takes as meaning that the raven has found land.

4 comments:

nina said...

John, breathtaking photography and wonderful subject. Try to see this program if you get it in your area .... http://video.pbs.org/video/2149549103

john said...

Hi Nina and thanks very much. I had a look for the PBS Murder Of Crows program but we can't get it here. I did manage to see a brief clip on youtube though it would be good to see the whole thing. I've been out trying to film the moon on this cold night but the annoying camera doesn't like focusing. I don't know, cheap digital technology, blummin rubbbish it is. Always a pleasure to hear from you! cheers.

reem said...

Always nice photos John ,it seems you haven"t got much snow this year ,there's no more beautiful than snowy morning ,cold and white ,your last photo is so beautiful ,lights of the sky are so quiet ,,winter still there ,that's clear through thus trees ,summer came fast here the weather is hot and dry ,very dry and winter has gone ,,i think it didn't realy come here ,,anyway life keeps going ..it's my pleasure to see your photos John ...have good time ....

john said...

Choukran Reem, always a pleasure to hear from you. We had a little bit of snow here but I kept missing the best of it for some reason, I think it was thawing too quickly here. It's a pity you didn't get such a good winter there this year, lets hope you get some rain. we had one day of sun on Tuesday and it was hot for here, about 14C but all is dark, foggy and rain today.

I should really get the photos up a lot quicker, as I am lagging behind as usual and still have lots from February that I should have put up before now. Spring is coming soon for us now. The plants and leaves on the trees have noticed the change in the length of day and are beginning to come out again. Lambs are being readied for Easter, though not for me.

Many thanks Reem and all the best to you.