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Ravens surf the wind on bark
With wings that can do barrel rolls and cartwheels, ravens soaring on big currents of wind could do almost anything in the air. Instead, some of them carry bark into the updraft and ride it like a surfer.
They might be showing off, or planning to crack the bark open for food, but this was a relaxed evening setting, just before the birds went to roost. Most likely they were simply playing, getting an endorphin rush from the same neurochemicals that bring pleasure in a human brain.
Play may also be useful for them, as it is for people. It may work out new neural circuits and make new connections, helping them find new ways to use objects in their environment.
Why would an animal play at all?
Researchers who study play define it as behavior that has no immediate purpose and is repeated in a relaxed setting. It is common in young mammals and found in a growing number of birds, with parrots and corvids the clearest examples. One idea is that play prepares the brain for unpredictable events by letting the animal practice varied movements. Another holds that it builds social bonds. Both ideas are still debated by researchers.
What other games do ravens play?
Bernd Heinrich, a biologist who studied ravens for decades, described them sliding down snowbanks on their backs and tobogganing down snowy roofs. He also saw them hanging upside down from branches and dropping sticks to catch them midair. Some ravens have been observed playing with wolves and dogs. Heinrich wrote about these behaviors in his book Mind of the Raven.
How do ravens fly in such acrobatic ways?
Ravens have broad wings with long, separated primary feathers at the tips, which help them control lift in gusty air. Their tail is wedge-shaped, giving them extra steering and braking. They can roll completely over and fly upside down for short stretches. These flight skills let them handle strong winds along mountain ridges.
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