SOME RAVEN-OUS BIRDS

There are at least six ravens that live at the Tower of London.

There's an old superstition that says if they ever leave, the British monarchy and subsequently Britain will fall.

But modern historians say that's merely a figment of someone's imagination.

Regardless, the flight wings on one side are clipped to keep the ravens from flying away.

Other than that the birds are well cared for by a Ravenmaster and the Yeoman Warders.

All of which brings me to the true story, not legend, of the StoneRidge ravens.

The photos come from the true resident of the house, my friend StoneRidge Lori.

It is the bird bath in front of her house that seems to attract them.

The "bubbler" really seems to fascinate them.

One of the rascals decided it was a floating raft and decided to go for a ride on it.

The other one dipped a toe in the water to see what the temperature was.

Lori says she has to clean the birdbath frequently because the ravens bring their food there, apparently to wash it.

So she finds all or parts of mice or lizards and on the day when the trash dumpsters are set out for pickup it can be whatever the ravens have scavenged.

One day she said she looked out and there were two large pieces of french bread in the birdbath ravens' restaurant.

This guy seems to be saying, "Hey, what happened to my breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Is that what he's saying?

Or is he just laughing at the silly humans who are entertained by a bubbler in a birdbath.

We shall never know for sure.

Nevermore.

(Tower of London raven photo by Historical Royal Palaces.  All other photos by L. Lewis.)