Thursday, December 6, 2012

Chiton for two

Just a few images of Common Ravens (Corvus corvax) eating a Gumboot Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) that washed up after the storm last weekend.


Notice how the ravens use their feet to hold the chiton.  And that instead of eating the chiton's large, smooth foot, they pulled out bits from below and alongside the foot.


I think these two individuals were a pair, but I don't know for sure.


(A quick aside: I can't help showing a close-up of the wing feathers — see below.)


The two ravens "talked" about sharing the chiton, and then the first raven moved away and let the larger bird feed. 



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