Ravens in the Greater Melbourne Region: Questions and Clarifications on Nest Heights, Town-adaptation, and the Minority of Australian Ravens Corvus coronoides

Abstract

Little is known about ravens in the Greater Melbourne region, Victoria, including official comment on the unusual heights at which they tend to nest. The adaptation of Little Ravens Corvus mellori to the city is relatively recent and there have been sightings of (apparently still wild) Australian Ravens C. coronoides in certain areas. This paper reviews the literature concerning ravens in Melbourne, and examines the small sample (n = 21) of Little Raven data available for most of this area from the Nest Record Scheme administered by Birds Australia, for insights into the Little Raven’s history. Data show an apparent shift in population concentration accompanied by an increase in height of nesting above the ground. These changes coincide with the recognition of Little Ravens as town-adapted in the mid 1980s, thus suggesting that these aspects are features of town adaptation.