Raven
Ravens have inspired fear as well as respect as Brett Westwood discovers when he dips into Norse mythology, meets an individual bird and listens to a roost at night. From 2016
Our relationship with ravens can be traced back many thousands of years. According to Norse mythology the god Odin had two ravens named Huginn (meaning ‘thought’) and Munnin (meaning ‘memory’). He would send them out each day to fly around the world and then return to perch on his shoulders and tell him of what they had seen and heard. With its black colouration, croaking calls and diet of carrion, the raven has long been considered a bird of ill omen , but this over-simplifies our relationship with these highly successful birds as Brett Westwood discovers when he eavesdrops on their conversations at night, meets a man who has reared a raven and talks to a scientist who has long been fascinated by their powers of intelligence. Ravens are more like us than you might like to think.
Original producer : Sarah Blunt
Reversion producer : Andrew Dawes
First broadcast in a longer form : 8th November 2016
Last on
Lloyd Buck and Brann the raven
Lloyd's passion for birds began at a very young age and he has been lucky enough to turn it into a long rewarding career, having an instinctive, intuitive way with the birds.
"Looking after our birds is a not just our career and job, it is a lifestyle, as you have to be there for them seven days a week, but we love it" Lloyd said. "Because we always make sure the birds enjoy themselves, we can get the best out of them without compromising their welfare.”
Brann is the second raven that Lloyd and Rose have reared. Ravens are one of the most intelligent of all birds. Brann has a wonderful temperament, is well behaved (most of the time!) and has been trained to carry a camera for filming in a wide range of locations.
Professor Miranda Aldhouse-Green
Her research interests lie principally in the fields of Iron Age and Roman religion and ritual. Among her most recent books are Caesar's Druids and Bog Bodies Uncovered. She is currently working on a new book entitled Sacred Britannia.
Professor Nicky Clayton
She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2010 for her work on the cognitive capacities of corvids, and has collaborated extensively with Rambert's Artistic Director Mark Baldwin on various choreographic works which explore the power and magic of wordless thoughts and the abstract nature of ideas.
In tandem with this, Nicky also works with fine artist and writer, Clive Wilkins. Together they founded The Captured Thought which goes beyond the usual interdisciplinary channels, combining science, art and the performing arts, to explore thinking with and without words.
Chris Watson
His sound recording career began in 1981 when he joined Tyne Tees Television. Since then he has developed a particular and passionate interest in recording the wildlife sounds of animals, habitats and atmospheres from around the world. As a freelance recordist for film, TV & radio, Chris Watson specialises in natural history and documentary location sound together with track assembly and sound design in post production.
Broadcasts
- Tue 8 Nov 2016 11:00BBC Radio 4
- Mon 14 Nov 2016 21:00BBC Radio 4
- Sun 12 Dec 2021 06:35BBC Radio 4
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