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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
archited
Senior Member
Free bunnies… awe….
bennessb
editor at large
this is very strange/the best.
It's the peak holiday shopping season and outside West Edmonton Mall, patrons are squawking and beaking off at each other as they fight for a spot to park.
But this group of rowdies is not allowed inside the mall — and it's not a conspiracy against them.
In fact, they are the conspiracy. A conspiracy of ravens, that is.
Scott Charlton noticed them in mid-November when leaving the mall after a day of work. He heard caws and noticed between 50 and 100 ravens flying around above him.
With another group perched on the letters of a lit Winners sign, Charlton said it looked more like a scene from the Planet Earth nature series or from Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds instead of a mall parking lot.
Ravens have been spotted gathering after nightfall at West Edmonton Mall for the past couple of weeks. (Scott Charlton)
People in some cultures would consider such a gathering of ravens (called a conspiracy, an unkindness or a constable) to be a bad omen.
Charlton was simply awestruck.
"It was such a huge group that I was just like 'I have to take a video.' I've never seen that many ravens in one place," Charlton said. "It just seemed really out of place that they're hanging outside at West Edmonton Mall of all places."
Since taking that first video three weeks ago, he's been keeping an eye on the gatherings and said the most recent rally happened within the last few days. "When they get together, they squabble over who gets to sit where and for how long," he said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ravens-west-edmonton-mall-1.4440651
archited
Senior Member
This is an interesting article/book review on the evolution of urban species and follows up on the phenomenon of urban jackrabbits in Edmonton. Anyway, give me your thoughts.
getpocket.com
The Concrete Jungle
Menno Schilthuizen is a Dutch biologist based at Leiden University, in a country whose population is more urban than rural. In other words, he inhabits the future. His new book, Darwin Comes to Town alerts us to new evidence about the pace of evolution. By watching the evolutionary play as it...
getpocket.com
This is a great read.
transforming.edmonton.ca
Here’s what happens when 50,000 honey bees descend on a worksite in Edmonton - Transforming Edmonton
When a swarm of tens of thousands of bees chose a worksite near Stadium LRT station to call home recently, crews buzzed Dustin Bajer for a hand. Bajer is an urban beekeeper and educator. When swarms happen, City of Edmonton pest control experts help determine who deals with the bees, depending...
transforming.edmonton.ca
This is an interesting article/book review on the evolution of urban species and follows up on the phenomenon of urban jackrabbits in Edmonton. Anyway, give me your thoughts.
The Concrete Jungle
Menno Schilthuizen is a Dutch biologist based at Leiden University, in a country whose population is more urban than rural. In other words, he inhabits the future. His new book, Darwin Comes to Town alerts us to new evidence about the pace of evolution. By watching the evolutionary play as it...
Not a short or easy read, but very interesting! Would be interested to see a study on the local wildlife to see if there's been noticible genetic changes for adaptation to our urban environment.
archited
Senior Member
^^^^ Yes, @Daveography, that would be interesting -- I'll have to push my contacts at UofA
Platinum107
Senior Member
Huh, that explains why I’ve never seen a raccoon in my life 
archited
Senior Member
When humans expire themselves with inanity, these guys are already plotting to take over. The masks are a perfect foil to identity checks. If they are surveilling your place, they may know something you don't.
Avenuer
Senior Member
Only a matter of time before they take over the city like in Toronto!
Avenuer
Senior Member
Which events?
Friendmonton
Active Member
Just saw a bald eagle flying towards the university while driving over Groat Bridge!