Description
Being quite crafty and resourceful, ravens are quick to learn and have adapted to diverse habitats all around the world. From extreme northern climates to the southern hemisphere, ravens can be found in forests, plains, deserts and mountainous regions. Ravens are extremely playful and highly intelligent. They can be taught to speak and have been known to use tools. Being fast and wary, they are not easily intimidated.
Females lay 4-6 eggs in the spring. Both males and females share in feeding the young, who begin to fly within 35-42 days after hatching. Pairs raise one brood per season; raven pairs mate for life.
Ravens are popular in mythology, where they are associated with life, death, magic and mischief. They are the bringer of omens. A pair of ravens were messengers to the Norse god Odin, and Odin himself could turn into a raven. Their black feathers represent the magic of darkness. Ravens can teach us to go into the dark and bring out the light.
artwork by Dan Burgevin © 2003
