Ravens moving south?

Ok , back track a bit. At the family cottage between Bracebridge and Vankoughnet we always had ravens they were likely,are more numerous than crows. About 20 years ago I hunted with a group around Priceville with mostly locals for around 10 years or so and the last couple years I, we . Would see ravens. I thought that was strange as I have never seen them around farm land. But the local guys said they are relatively new to the area and they are seeing more and more.

Fast forward to the last few weeks here in Ancaster, 2 weeks ago I thought I heard that familar " Wonk Wonk" that we all know so well but I wasn't sure so I paid no mind. Then on sunday morning deer hunting in my little honey hole not only did I hear the "Wonk Wonk " I saw a pair of ravens cruise low enough through the canopy that there was no mistake.

Has anyone else noticed a southern move of these great birds.?

Yea , I've heard them around Port Perry for the first time. I couldn't believe it at first, but I'm hearing them more often.

A bird not is not seen much anymore are whiskey jacks. At one time they were around most hunt camps and gut piles.

We saw tons of them up in 21a.... (whisky jacks)

Only the last 20-25 years we have had ravens around Wiarton, seen them further up the peninsula probably 45 yrs ago, have never seen a whiskey jack around here. The ravens around here don't seem to be near as big as the ones up in northern Ontario.

We have them all over the place here in Ottawa. Getting to be numerous as crows. Huge bird or so it seems.

Our camp is on the Saugeen about 3 miles from Priceville and we see the occasional Raven but for the most it is still common crows.

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Our camp is on the Saugeen about 3 miles from Priceville and we see the occasional Raven but for the most it is still common crows.

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North or south of hwy 4. ? So is this a seasonal thing.? after all many species of birds move south in the fall. ?

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

North or south of hwy 4. ? So is this a seasonal thing.? after all many species of birds move south in the fall. ?

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North of 4, NW of Priceville. We use the camp year round. Food plots, trail maintenance and stand repair starting in the spring through to late summer. Hunting wise it is turkey (spring and fall), deer, grouse, snowshoe hares, coyote (opportunistic and intentional from Jan 1 to until early spring), fishing - spring, summer and fall. And X-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

I am there most weekends from April to December. January to April it is more like every other weekend. I should add that I am usually doing work and it is quite possible that running the tractor, backhoe or chainsaw is not conducive to detecting ravens. We have only owned the camp for 4 years and to date it has been 80% work and only about 20% play. Property was a bush lot when we bought it with no buildings, no trails, no driveway, no entrance etc… The last 4 years have largely been spent adding improvements to get it the way we want it.

I have been seeing them in Mississauga!

Had a ton of them around during the rifle hunt. Had a huge conspiracy that cleaned up my gut pile in a few hours. Ate everything but the windpipe. The sounds they made were awesome to listen to. At one point there was a few mimicking the dogs, almost to a tee.

We have seen a few in our area , probably for the last 5 years. Probably a couple of pair. At our camp in loring area, usually quite common.. Can't recall seeing any whiskey jacks at the camp this year.
Was at our camp this week ,Loring , the deer are definitely moving in to the yard. saw lots of tracks.

Got one doe this fall , no fawn. Very little sign of fawn tracks, in the area. Hope this winter is not as tough for them.old243

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Originally Posted by LiveBates

Had a ton of them around during the rifle hunt. Had a huge conspiracy that cleaned up my gut pile in a few hours. Ate everything but the windpipe. The sounds they made were awesome to listen to. At one point there was a few mimicking the dogs, almost to a tee.

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I had one come into a big pine, right beside my stand, that made the weirdest sound I have ever heard come out of one. It was like a super loud cluck and and a high pitched gong at the same time. Did it several times and then flew away. Really bizarre.

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Originally Posted by Wahoo

I had one come into a big pine, right beside my stand, that made the weirdest sound I have ever heard come out of one. It was like a super loud cluck and and a high pitched gong at the same time. Did it several times and then flew away. Really bizarre.

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Oh ya, some of the sounds are unreal. Bells/whistle/human voice and dog all in one cluck. Full on conversations with each other. Probably making fun of us in the woods:)

Seen them last spring mimicking Turkey hen calls....

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”
Etc.

Ravens are extremely cool birds.
They have an erie class all their own.
I hope to see them in southern Ontario.

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Originally Posted by Roper

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”
Etc.

Ravens are extremely cool birds.
They have an erie class all their own.
I hope to see them in southern Ontario.

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For sure Roper. They always seem like they know something we don't. I'd like to know how they aquired the name "conspiracy" or an "Unkindness" for when there is a group of them.

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Originally Posted by impact

We have them all over the place here in Ottawa. Getting to be numerous as crows. Huge bird or so it seems.

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Agreed. Used to be I would only see them after the leaves were down in the fall, but now I see them in the summer too.
Want to test your woodsman-ship skills? Try sneaking up on a bunch of them at a gut pile. Fat chance of getting close.

Cheers

There's a couple Ravens around my acreage between Durham and Priceville (82a). Still a ton of crows though....

No! NO! Don't say this!

We simply can't have a northern species moving south!!!!

What are you guys trying to do....destroy the Global Warming narrative?:scream:

Funny you mention it, saw a huge raven in Richmond Hill yesterday and thought "huh..that's weird". We had a flock harassing a bald eagle in parry sound during the deer hunt and they were making some wild noises.

I had no idea that ravens are not common in the southern parts of the province. I just took it for granted that they were everywhere, like crows and coyotes.

The whiskey jack sightings seem to be normal in my area this year.

Saw a few in St Catharines long ago.

PdHenderson - If your avatar is intended for humor - I"m laughing my azz off. If not for humor ..........

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Originally Posted by Roper

PdHenderson - If your avatar is intended for humor - I"m laughing my azz off. If not for humor ..........

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someone said it was my facebook profile...im running with it.....and my name is paul

I am glad to see this thread, with the exception of Paul's avatar,still trying to get that image out of my head.
We are about 1/2 hour north of Port Perry and we have been seeing and hearing ravens here for the last few years now, but when we tell anyone about them they think we are crazy. We love their sounds.