Sky diving

It’s still March, but the weather has turned warm as spring knocks on the proverbial door. The sky is a leaden winter grey and blustery with the March wind evident. Looking out toward the hill behind the farmhouse beyond the pasture, now devoid of snow, I happen to notice the raven pair who have taken up residence on the mountain hillside over the past many years taking advantage of the air currents as they boil and buffet high over the crest of the hill. They fly in unison as they dive close together and then swoop high aloft side by side. Presently another raven appears and joins the aerial ballet. Then three more ravens appear and join the play. Before long, I count thirteen ravens diving and swooping as a group, sometimes in twos and threes and at other times, meeting together to swoop, dive and roll with the air currents. They continue this behavior for several hours, sometimes disappearing beyond the ridge and then again soaring high above to catch another breeze.