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[Lani]

Posted on Montana Ospreys at Hellgate Facebook
Gifts of the Corvids: Raven and Crow Research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BE8GCxx8sw

Mar 6, 2025
This talk took place at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in front of a live audience on March 6, 2025.

Corvids—the ubiquitous crows, ravens, magpies, jays, nutcrackers, and relatives—are familiar backyard birds with extraordinary behaviors that enable them to thrive where most species cannot. In this presentation, Marzluff highlights the secrets of corvid life unveiled by experiments and observations over the past four decades with his colleagues and students. The audience will learn how crows have mastered city life, including their long-lasting ability to recognize people and hold grudges. He will draw parallels between human cognition and that of crows by discussing brain imaging experiments that reveal how birds assess danger, rewards, and the difficulty of mastering tool use.

Marzluff’s latest work on ravens in Yellowstone National Park involved tagging 60 birds with state-of-the-art transmitters. The birds shared their secrets as they flew a hundred miles directly to new kills, commandeered territory, found mates, and reared young. The picture that emerged from the study was that of a highly opportunistic bird with the knowledge that allowed them to exploit wolves but not depend on them. Marzluff discusses the tenuous and evolving relationship between humans, wolves, and ravens and the challenges animals face when they wander beyond the protection a national park provides.

Biography:
Marzluff’s research has been the focus of articles in the New York Times, National Geographic, Audubon, Boys Life, The Seattle Times, National Wildlife, Consumer Reports, Time, and Science. PBS’s Nature featured his raven research in its production “Ravens,” and his crow research in the film documentary “A Murder of Crows.” His current research focuses on the interactions of ravens and wolves in Yellowstone. He teaches field ecology courses at the University of Washington and for Yellowstone Forever.

Marzluff has written six books and edited several others. His graduate research in communication, social organization, demography, and foraging behavior is the subject of The Pinyon Jay (1992, Academic Press, coauthored with his advisor Russell Balda). His book, In the Company of Crows and Ravens (with Tony Angell, 2005 Yale U. Press) blends biology, conservation, and anthropology to suggest that human and crow cultures have co-evolved. This book won the 2006 Washington State Book Award for general nonfiction. With his wife, Colleen, he published Dog Days, Raven Nights (2011, Yale University Press), which combines reflection with biology and the recreational pursuit of dog sledding to show how a life in science blooms. Gifts of the Crow (2012, Free Press, coauthored with Tony Angell) applies a neurobiological perspective to understand the amazing feats of corvids. Marzluff’s Welcome to Subirdia (2014, Yale) discovers that moderately settled lands host a splendid array of biological diversity and suggests ways in which people can steward these riches to benefit birds and themselves. His most recent book In Search of Meadowlarks (2020, Yale) connects our agriculture and diets to the conservation of birds and other wildlife.

Marzluff has mentored more than 40 graduate students and authored more than 170 scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior and wildlife management. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a National Geographic Explorer.
Transcript

[shep]

Hellsgate LIVE
https://youtu.be/XUFb7RyVnJ8

Cornell cams
https://www.youtube.com/@CornellBirdCams
https://www.youtube.com/@CornellBirdCams/streams

[Lani]

Thanks Shep for the links 

They're waiting for Iris to return which should be in about three weeks!!!

[shep]

sweet lil sparrow

[Lani]

09:54, 3/25   Wave to Charles and Dr Greene!   #HellgateOsprey


09:25, 3/25   The big reveal!   Dr. Greene and team making adjustments at the box below the nest.   Charles is inside tending to camera modifcations.  The bucket truck should be here in about 30 minutes (MOL)! #HellgateOsprey https://t.co/VIykPwt1Ne https://twitter.com/HellgateOsprey/sta

[Lani]

3/25   FYI, Cam 2 is positioned to capture the bucket truck arrival.

[Lani]

3/25 Dr Greene introduced 2 visitors - both in the Masters Enviornmental Journalism program (one a writer, one making documentary films), both interested in Iris.  What a great experience this has been for both Emily and Cassidy!  #HellgateOsprey

.

[Lani]

10:15, 3/25   As you might expect, at some time during this work, the cam will be disconnected and we'll lose the stream while work progresses.  So far, it's been fascinating to watch!  #HellgateOsprey

[Lani]

3/25   One thing learned today .... Bird Cams are not just about setting up a cam!  Lots of precise work, thoughtful positioning for the subject .... really, it's an art, isn't it!  Many thanks to Dr Greene and Charles (MOP and Cornell Lab of Ornithology)   #HellgateOsprey
13:15, 3/25   Dr. Greene with Charles, Emily and Cassidy ... they've had a busy and productive day!  #HellgateOsprey

3/25   Latest update:   Will do some testing of the cam on the ground, check things out.  Then one more trip up in the bucket and we should be looking good!  #HellgateOsprey

[Lani]

Posted in Hellgate X by Juni B.L.
It's almost that time of year again! Iris will make her way to us soon, and she's eager with anticipation. But first! She must pack her best spare summer feathers, some fish jerky for the road (sky?), and Finnegan's love letter to her to keep her motivated.

[shep]

March 27
Thanks Lani
Cute meme of Iris packing for her trip!   

[Lani]

Hellgate Osprey update

Cam 2 is on the side of the building!   #HellgateOsprey


A new and improved Cam 1 has been installed at Hellgate Osprey nest.

[Lani]

Posted on Hellgate Osprey X
3/27  I"m sure most of you have these dates memorized!  But as we approach the end of March,
let's look back to Iris's arrival dates from 2011 to 2024....!   #HellgateOsprey

[shep]

   Iris could arrive Tuesday!
Thats April Fools day!

Beautiful new cam

[Lani]

Hellgate Osprey X posted:
Rumor is Louis and his mate Star have returned.