Have you been outsmarted by a raven? It happened to me. Once, a raven swooped down, tore a page out of my book and flew off. I'd left the book lying open at my campsite for only a minute. Naturally, the raven seized the page I hadn't read yet!

Ravens share their smarts with other members of the Corvid family�crows, jays, nutcrackers, and magpies. But ravens are the brainiest, according to bird scientist, Bernd Heinrich. He found that when a raven locates a dead animal like a moose, the bird flies back to the roost to share the good news and then leads the flock to the feast. Sharing information helps the flock survive.

Yellowstone's Wolf Bird
Ravens and wolves play and work together. Yellowstone National Park researchers have watched a raven hop up to a wolf pup and gently tug its tail. Ravens follow wolves on the hunt to share fresh elk meat. In turn, wolves follow the ravens to guide the pack to prey.

Playing in the Wind
There's nothing like a good storm to send ravens flying, looping, diving, twisting, and zooming in the gusts. Ravens are smart and playful.

-from page 32