Shared by Bob Flippen, as Guest Blogger.

High Bridge is fortunate enough to have a wonderful display of nature just feet from where visitors to High Bridge Trail State Park can pass each day. It's a Raven's nest complete with young hatchlings eager for their next meal.

The raven nest is located at the top of the third steel tower from the east end of the bridge at High Bridge Trail State Park 

It is located at the top of the third steel tower from the east end and was first noticed by Park staff during the Civil War Sesquicentennial events. By April 5th, the nest was seen to be occupied by a clutch of 6-8 eggs in a light green-olive color with brown speckles. The mother, dubbed "Ramona" was quite wary and would fly away from the nest when people got too close to the railing. She generally flies underneath the bridge to a tree along the Appomattox River where she waits and vocalizes her disapproval with loud croaking signals before returning to the nest. By April 11th, the eggs had hatched and the young were actively seeking and competing for food from Ramona and warming themselves in the morning sun.

Raven eggs waiting to be hatched at High Bridge

Dr. Michael Stinson of Southside Virginia Community College in Keysville, an avid bird enthusiast, was contacted in the effort to precisely identify the occupants and he determined Ramona and her young to be of the Common Raven variety. He noted ravens nested on the US 460 bridge where it crosses High Bridge Trail three years ago, which became the first Prince Edward County nesting record. "I think they wanted better accommodations - certainly they have a better view and less noise where they are now!" 

Young raven hatchlings can be seen warming in the morning sun.

According to Dr. Stinson, "They have been spreading out into the Piedmont for the last 15 years or so. When I was a kid they were strictly confined to the Blue Ridge and west - mountains only. But now they've learned to cruise the highways for food (road-kill) and to nest on bridges and are gradually filling in the Piedmont." 

The mother has been dubbed "Ramona" by park staff and can be seen in a tree when people get too close to the railing and nest

Some interesting traits about ravens include they live 25-40 years in the wild and up to 70 years in captivity. They mate for life and usually nest in the same place, so hopefully they will become accustomed to Park visitors thereby becoming a regular attraction at High Bridge Trail State Park. They are also capable of mimicking sounds so be careful what you say around them! As adolescents in the 1-4 year-old range, a survival strategy includes roaming in gangs together, sometimes very mischievously, until they finally mate and become more settled.

Ravens are extremely intelligent, highly adaptable and even capable of displaying empathy toward one another, or wariness toward strange ravens. A flock of ravens is known as an “unkindness” although the birds appear to be anything but.

Come out to High Bridge Trail State Park in the heart of Virginia and say hello to Ramona and the family (from a distance).