Food and Feathers -- Tower of London, Tower Hamlets, London, UK
N 51° 30.471 W 000° 04.638
30U E 702818 N 5710352
A sign at the raven cages tells about their care and feeding at the Tower of London
Waymark Code: WMT15H
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/07/2016
Views: 6
If you come to the Tower of London and don't see a raven, you have missed one of the most interesting and quirky aspects of the long history of this fascinating place.
A sign near the raven cages gives some facts about the care and upkeep of the birds, as follows:
"FOOD AND FEATHERS
The Tower ravens eat twice a day in their varied diet includes chicks, rats, and mice. Once a week. They enjoy a boiled egg, plus the occasional rabbit, which is given to them whole because the fur and bones are good for them.
Raven ravens are the largest members of the corvid family with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres.
Ravens are intelligent birds and each of ours has their own personality. They can mimic sounds, play games, and solve problems. One of our ravens at the Tower likes to lie on her back and play dead she's not getting enough attention.
To prevent the ravens from flying away, the Ravenmaster trims their lifting feathers on one wing. This procedure does not hurt the birds in any way but by unbalancing their flight, it ensures they stay safe and do not stray from the Tower."
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