Raven Love Story, Etching, 8 inches by 10 inch

A RAVEN LOVE STORY,  Etching. 5 inch x 7 inch 2014

A Raven Love Story

Only twelve species in the entire animal kingdom mate for life. I knew that ravens mated for life but I never fully appreciated this bond until I accidentally hit and killed one of these intelligent birds, the experience made a lasting impression. I was driving to one of my favorite fly-fishing spots about 11 miles north of Fairbanks AK. I crested a hill and off to the side of the road was a moose carcass and an entire group of ravens. As I drove past one raven startled and flew into the path my car. I slowed and saw the entire group descending upon my vehicle. After several miles only one bird followed me. I arrived at my fishing stream and had an angry visitor; I think it had to be the mate of the poor bird I hit. It followed me the entire afternoon screaming profanities at me.  I packed up and headed home and the bird followed me but stopped by the corpse of its mate. Over the next several months, whenever I drove to this fishing stream, I had a visitor. Over time its profanities seemed to be replaced by a more plaintive call, which sounded like a whimper. Each time I drove home the raven followed and stopped at the site of the accident. This bird was mourning the loss of its life partner. I never saw the bird again because we bought a new car which I used to travel to the stream.  Romeo and Juliet, Paris and Helen, Tristram and Isolde, Shah and Mahal (The Taj Mahal)- these are some of the most famous and tragic human love stories.

The truth is we are not the only species capable of emotion or mourning the loss of a loved one.

this print is featured in the beautiful new book RAVEN, GET A GRIP by Patrica Thomas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUxy_RR10Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGT548fAjMQ