In our latest update on the Ravens, you learned that there were 4 Raven babies growing up in the nest on the Purcellville water tower! Having survived cold weather and workers on the tower, the first of the young decided yesterday to test its wings and made its first and unfortunately only flight.
Sadly, a driver — who should have been going slow through the school zone and paying attention (what? I know, what a crazy thought!) hit and killed the young bird.
Now Ravens are large black birds, not easily missed – and these are not birds that dart out — especially not as a fledgling. Could the driver have avoided killing the bird? Yes – I guarantee it.
I am mad (and yes, sad) with this senseless loss. We as drivers have a responsibility to pay attention, to slow down — and yes, even to STOP (it can be done!), if there is something – especially people or wildlife – in the road.
I am amazed my all the dead opossums, groundhogs and raccoons along our roads right now. Have you noticed them too? I hope so – at least take note because the places where you see a lot of them are actually wildlife corridors (our roads came later), and they are places you should especially pay attention because there will be more.
Like a fledgling Raven, opossums, turtles, groundhogs, skunks, racoons, and others are not animals that dart out and can’t be avoided. [Yes, I know, deer can leap out and squirrels can be frenetic] But in most cases – even with darting species, either people are choosing not to slow down, not to avoid….or they are not paying attention. I’m not sure which is worse, but neither is acceptable. Neither is an excuse.
I am outraged by all the roadkill – and the loss of this young raven is another example that underscores the problem. It provides a commentary (not a positive one) on our species on how we behave, what we value, and what we do with the tools (a car, our brains) that we have at our disposal. As far as I’m aware, all cars are equipped with a brake pedal, and all drivers have two functioning eyes. More people need to use them.