“Hey, ranger, what’s that big black bird?” Usually peering down from a Juniper perch or hopping along parking areas, a popular resident of the southwest is the Common Raven (Corvus corvax). This member of the crow and jay family can reach about 24” in length and is covered in rich black feathers that shift from green to purple under the sunlight. Though often portrayed as tricksters or sidekicks of villains, Ravens are brilliant birds! These brilliant birds can open bags and unzip backpacks! Biologists have studied the various vocalizations that Ravens use to alert food, danger, and more! If they think another bird is after their prized food, these clever birds will hide their treasures and look in the opposite direction to pretend the meal is somewhere else! Ravens have been subject of literature, cinema, plays and art for centuries! Did you know that another National Park Service site preserves one home of a world-renowned writer whose scary stories and moody prose often featured our fine feathered friend? Take a walk through the home of this haunted writer at Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site in Pennsylvania! Exhibits and ranger programs immerse all who visit in the life of Poe and give a glimpse into the creative mind that gave the world stories such as The Pit and The Pendulum, The Black Cat and EVER famous, The Raven: But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered— Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before— On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.” Then the bird said “Nevermore.” Learn more about Poe, his life and his writings: https://www.nps.gov/edal Stay tuned for more “spooky” stories and connections this October! #SpookySeason #EdgarAllenPoe #TheRaven 📷 NPS