Wednesday 24 February 2016

Merlin, the raven



Every day at first light, Chris Skaife, Master Raven Keeper at the Tower of London, awakens the ravens from their slumbers and feeds them breakfast.


 
Chris Skaife & Merlin. Photo © Martin Usborne



The keeping of ravens at the Tower is a serious business, since legend has it that, ‘If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall…’ 






“She chose her partner, it’s me,” 






"We believe that crows, ravens and magpies have the same brain capacity as great apes. If they are a pair, ravens will mimic each other’s movements for satisfaction. They all have their own personalities, their moods, and their foibles, just like people.”







“If one of the other birds comes into her territory, she will come and sit by me for protection,” he confessed, confirming his Royal romance with a blush of tender recollection, “She sees me as one of her own.”






Read the whole (love) story here.

Read more about the Ravens and the Beefeaters at the Tower of London.