The Tower of London's ravens playing in the snow

[ccoraxfan]

Getting around in the snow is kind of tough for a bird who's had his wings clipped. Having spent much time around fully-flighted ravens who love the snow, this is hard to watch. But of course they make the best of it - it's not as if they have much choice.

[Insperato62]

It's 2011 - nothing to do with being superstitious really. It's just fun to keep traditions (well, harmless ones) alive.  Yes, they have their wings clipped so their flight is restricted, but to live 'til you are 44 when the natural span is about 12 years! Can't be bad can it?

[Icaenea]

Just for those doubting the comfort of the Tower Ravens, I'd like to put your minds at ease by saying that these birds are treated like Royalty - fed on a diet of raw meat, blood-soaked formula biscuits, rabbits, the occasional egg and Tower kitchen scraps, and playing and socialising with people and one another daily, their handlers make sure they want for nothing. The oldest raven currently there, Hardy, is 24, and the oldest of all lived to 44 - no unhappy bird would live for that long.

[anasnaknota]

never thought that they are still very superstitious until now

[hmatoo52]

london first

[verticalsmurf]

I'm glad that the Tower has 'raven only areas', otherwise I would have snuggled at least one to death.

I know that if the ravens leave the tower, the Monarchy will fall, but isn't it cheating if the birds have their wings clipped?

[lint1969]

@verticalsmurf

twat

[verticalsmurf]

@lint1969 Care to elaborate?

[verticalsmurf]

@lint1969 Care to elaborate?

[verticalsmurf]

@lint1969 Why?

[Brennna]

@verticalsmurf Yes it's cheating. Maybe the should clip some bits off the monarchy.

[Loreleismom]

They can fly, they just can't sustain flight for any great distance. I saw video once of a bird playing in the snow. It would get a the top of a hill, flop over on its back and slide down to the bottom. It then would walk back up the hill and do it again. Trust me, they value these ravens and wouldn't let them come to any harm. After all, if the ravens are gone, the monarchy will fall. :)

[jcervello]

I don't think they're playing, I think they're struggling to fly with clipped wings.

[lookinglass123]

They're born in that kind of captivity...they never know how to fly.

[xxxlotus000]

Birds don't need to be 'taught' to fly; they do it instinctually. The keeper of the ravens in the Tower of London does, in fact, clip their wings, for the express reason of making them stay there.

[lookinglass123]

Yes. What am saying is that they're wings are clipped so shortly after birth that they never really know the sensation of flying.

[xxxlotus000]

Ahhh....gotcha. 

No matter what, I'm pretty sure those are some of the better-cared-for birds in the entire U.K. I doubt they want for much.

[lookinglass123]

Yeah. Can imagine....

[Iluthra]

The last bird seemed to be either trying to bathe in the snow, or was just enjoying getting all "snowed up". I saw a video years ago that showed a crow sliding down a snow covered hill on his back. He would climb back up the hill and do it again. It was so funny.

[lookinglass123]

lol hehe

[andreazere]

tee hee, the lighter side of Brtish history!

[littlemisssunnydale]

Wow; you had that much snow! Over in the south-west we hardly had any :(

[lookinglass123]

Oh no that totally sucks...knee deep in London :)

[littlemisssunnydale]

The snow finally came today! Although it melted quite quickly :(

[lookinglass123]

yeah lol...it was a fleeting moment of fun.