A Returning Raven

The same raven has been coming to visit over the past few days. Each time, it returns to the same spot right alongside the frozen river. It walks across the snow, pauses, sometimes rubs its head against the ground like it’s scratching an itch, and even carried food in its beak once.

It’s head rubbing behavior is called feaking. It’s how many birds clean and take care of their beaks. The raven could have been wiping away some bits of food on it. In other times of the year, they may do this while bathing in water, but when the water is frozen they get creative with other surfaces.

Ravens have good memories and often return to places that are familiar or useful to them. In winter, when finding food takes more effort, returning to the same spot could mean this place is offering something that it needs. It could be food, a safe place, or just simply a place is remembers.

I wonder what keeps drawing it back to this quiet spot on the river.