Myrtle was found on Muddy Creek Mountain in Greenbrier County, trailing a long leather leash from one leg. She had been kept illegally and is quite comfortable being around human activity. She weighs a little over 2 pounds. Common ravens are the largest passerine, which is the family of birds that perch.
Common Ravens are highly intelligent and inquisitive birds with legendary problem solving skills. Myrtle takes delight in being presented with new puzzles to solve and is very skilled at hiding treasured items and foods. If she thinks we know where she has hidden a particular treasure she will wait until we leave and then will relocate it. She is an omnivore and opportunistic scavenger and as such she enjoys a wide range of food items. Her favorites, though, are mice, red grapes, and hard boiled eggs. Ravens have a home range of approximately 25 square air miles. It is not uncommon to find them in the more remote areas, especially in higher elevations. Although we do not know Myrtle’s exact age, we do know that she is an adult and is at least 2 years old because she has dark brown eyes and a black mouth. The younger birds have a pink mouth and grey eyes. In the wild ravens can live to be at least 13 years old, but in captivity they can live to be anywhere from 44 to 80 years old.
They nest in many different types of locations. Their nests are made of sticks and other handy materials. It is not unusual for the nest to be reused from year to year with just a bit of freshening up. The inside is often lined with mud and fur from animals in the area. They can lay 3 to 7 eggs per clutch (3 to 4 is average) and they raise only 1 clutch annually. In West Virginia the nesting season is March through mid-July. The female does most of the nest building and incubating, and both parents feed the young.
