Nesting is a tricky business. If you’re an Australian Raven, there’s a lot of moaning involved. I heard the fuss while walking along a bush path, and peered up high into the trees to see what all the commotion was about. This video starts with the two ravens weaving twigs into their nest. The nest looks more like an untidy platform of sticks at this stage. The birds croon to each other throughout the process. One of the birds flies off. It lands close to me, grabs a stick, and makes a bit of a fuss about getting just the right grip before taking off for the nest:

Australian Ravens are large birds, with ice blue eyes, black plumage that shimmers blue in the sun, and a thick ruff of feathers under their beaks. When they’re flying, they make a long drawn-out cawing that can sound like a wailing cat.

The next video shows more of the nest building and crooning. At first one raven is alone in the nest, and takes time out to have a bit of a stretch. Then its partner arrives, and the serious business of nest building starts again. It’s funny how the birds’ voices wobble when they bob their heads up and down, trying to get those pesky sticks into the right position:

Common name: Australian Raven

Scientific name: Corvus coronoides

Approximate length: 50 cm

Date spotted: 24 August 2019 ( Late winter)

Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’59.7″S 151°15’14.8″E