When I spotted this beautiful raven, a summer memory flashed through my mind. On my final day in Alaska last September, we visited a raptor rehabilitation center. Wounded eagles, owls, ravens, and hawks were healing in preparation for release back into the wild.
A young volunteer shared an interesting account of the ravens. She told us that wild ravens often came to visit the wounded ravens housed in large outdoor enclosures. During the visits, the wild ravens passed food through the wire fencing to their injured friends.
Interesting...ravens aren’t known for sharing. They’re better known for stealing food from each other.
But maybe we don’t know the ravens’ true nature. Perhaps their highest nature is one of loving and caring for each other. Maybe, like humans, their best selves emerge when their families, friends, and communities are faced with challenges and need a helping hand.
Perhaps kindness happens in the natural world more often than we know. Just like in our human world.
I suspect it's true…
(New photos on website Gallery: wandernature.com/new-photos)