Courageous Black Swans frustrate a Raven attacking their cygnets

[@candicesacks2211]

They are such good loving parents! Bless them!!

[@tobi.i.d.c7995]

No there are not male Swan kill other Baby so not really

[@tobi.i.d.c7995]

@Lbot beenthere so raven have no instincts?

[@ionestewart2936]

@@tobi.i.d.c7995 1

[@ionestewart2936]

@@tobi.i.d.c7995 sq

[@tobi.i.d.c7995]

@MelodicWolf in this video. I don't see ur point

[@frightbat208]

Ravens are smart but they’re jerks.

[@swanqueen454]

@@scottouellette9411 Yeah, big man with big gun and small brain

[@swanqueen454]

@kkthxk There are people like that and we can’t shoot them? Most of them are in the White House and Senate. Plus their supporters. Animals were here first. People forget that.

[@jamesaron1967]

@@scottouellette9411 If that's the way you feel why are you even watching a video about birds?? Seems contradictory to me.

[@swanqueen454]

@@scottouellette9411 You are a SICK person. Does it make you feel good to hurt animals? Does it make you feel good hurting the feelings of people that may love those birds? You need to search your soul. Oh, I am so sorry. You do not have one. I pity you

[@swanqueen454]

@kkthxk Dude, I am a nurse who owns a horse & enjoys being outdoors with nature. So I don't need an MD or medication. I probably do more for humanity in a day then you have your whole life. Nature is beautiful and cruel. Like a hawk killing my favorite chicken, Jane. It hurts like hell, but it is nature. I respect nature.

[@muffintop420]

The swans were smart not overreacting, one was protecting the other on attack. Sometimes you see waterfowl parents freak out and try to attack the threat so much they forget about their babies.

[@nspain33]

It even appears that a small bird was attempting to help the swans protect their young by dive bombing the crow. Actually the ruckus attracted many of the pond inhabitants to the scene. It would appear that the crows are not the most popular species among them! They must be the bullies amongst them all. Thank you for sharing. 🙏

[@bobhumphries1473]

Hi Nancy - thanks for your comments. The Raven was dive-bombed by Red Wattlebird - a large, aggressive species of Australian honeyeater. Lots of birds attack Ravens because they raid their nests for eggs and nestlings.

[@nspain33]

Bob Humphries - As I watched your great video I noticed as time was passing there were several other breeds of bird (other than the Red Wattlebird) who also seemed to be drawn to and gather around the scene of action. Perhaps to give moral support to the swans and their plight?! I believe comforting emotions are shared feelings expressed by both human & animals alike. Of course there are many who will disagree with this opinion, but this is an acknowledgement formed by personal experiences that will not soon change in its opinion. I’ve been around now for awhile and have witnessed to many shows of compassion, love and forgiveness performed by our animal friends. Not everything can be explained away by instinct! . . . By the way, you have a great eye and a wonderful talent for catching nature in action. Kudos 🙏

[@dyates6380]

LOL!!!!! You're kidding, right? The bird may have been trying to get rid of the crow, but to think it was to "help" the swans is laughable.

[@MrJinscoe]

I saw,a smaller bird dive bombing the raven, lol good assist from smaller birdy! 🙂

[@jamesaron1967]

A taste of its own medecine because that's what they love to do, especially against birds of prey and other predatory birds like herons.

[@pj8143]

I have seen a smaller bird called a Willie Wagtail, I’ve seen them do that to Crows & other wildlife.

[@hellsgate09]

@@pj8143 That was not a Wagtail. They have shorter bodies and are more 'plump' or 'round' and often very dark in colouring with them being almost - if not entirely - black with a white underside. That bird was varying shades of brown, more light browns than anything else and had a longer leaner body with white/lighter tips on the tail feathers. The description says it was a Red Wattlebird and while I'm no ornithologist I cannot speak to the veracity of that claim it does align with what those birds appear to look like.

[@torinjones3221]

@@KZbinTookMyNickname.WhyNot that's because the Australian Raven is actually more like the Carrion Crow than a Raven Australian Raven is 18-21 inches Carrion Crow is 19-20 inches Common Raven 21-26 inches All ravens are crows not all crows are ravens.

[@eskaplays2631]

2:16 you mean?

[@lafayette2957]

Black Swans are so beautiful

[@mulletman1705]

All swans are beautiful

[@Maruko1994]

random bird passing by: what's happening here???

[@hazelangus]

I have a suspicion that this raven was trolling rather than hunting... ravens have a sense of humour, this one is enjoying it far too much for it to be all business, and it would be a very silly raven indeed that would attempt to take a cygnet with both its adult parents present. Unless it's a very young raven that hasn't quite got the hang of what it can and can't catch yet. Doesn't look like a youngster though.

[@pisces2569]

Hazel Angus you’re anthropomorphizing. The raven just wants a meal

[@dindinprivate3477]

Ravens usually hunt in larger groups (flocks? packs?) not as individuals.

[@hazelangus]

@@pisces2569 Not anthropomorphizing at all. Ravens in general have a sense of humour, same as corvids in general. They are highly intelligent birds, which is why a lone raven seems unlikely to go after a cygnet in this situation. I'm sure they'd steal one from a nest, or try and get one if the parents were away, but this is just not possible here and the cygnets look too big for the raven to carry off in the same way a seagull might. It's not an efficient food mission - lots of jumping around with absolutely no reward, nor likelihood of one.

[@egparis18]

@@hazelangus You're right. They'll pull the tailfeathers off an eagle and steal your glasses, escape from the Tower of London, open your backpack, and swear at you as they scoff your sandwiches. This one looks more like a crow to me, but I 'm sure an Australian raven isn't exactly the same as a Eurasian / North American one.

[@copperhopperwarren4788]

@@pisces2569 actually they are extremely smart (make & use tools) & do have a sense of humour .. just do a search for ravens playing...

[@jamesaron1967]

Best protection the cygnets can have is being in the water. Corvids aren't waterfowl and won't harass them there. Great video, love all the different birds. The Ibis couldn't care less about the confrontation and ventured surprisingly close to the family.

[@mrsgamer9218]

Not really, saw ravens snatching th em out of the water many, many times.

[@jamesaron1967]

@@mrsgamer9218 Doesn't surprise me, nothing ravens might do surprises. However, being on land the cygnets are, well, sitting cygnets. Whatever little added protection the water may provide it's better than nothing.

[@BossySwan]

Mummy and Daddy Swan make a good team

[@mulletman1705]

They are actually 2 lesbian swans

[@julieenslow5915]

I swear that cob is strutting as his mate successfully leads the cygnets into the lake. Job done, cygnets safe!

[@bobhumphries1473]

I don’t know where you are from, but the attacker is an Australian Raven, Corvus coronoides. This interaction was shot in Perth, Western Australia.

[@mariajefferies8555]

Wow. I live in Perth never seen this before 🌻

[@dpeasehead]

The birds' dialect was a dead giveaway..

[@danisaveryniceguy6437]

Oh I see. I'm English so I thought this Raven looked a bit small for our European Ravens that are a similar size to a common Buzzard.

[@ahmadfarzanzahirhussan2685]

I knew it was Australia!the birds looked so familiar,I saw the same kind of birds in parks in Melbourne 😂

[@salamparadise9183]

I find them more protective of their children than many human parents.

[@lilliankeane5731]

That'll stop him...get in the water..😂

[@bl6973]

moral of the story, don’t mess with waterfowl.

[@boysteacher3818]

lol

[@Emptic]

Raven: *tries to attack black swans cygnets* Black Swans: You dare oppose us, m o r t a l

[@catherinebland2717]

Mockingbird and other birds had a stab at him too. Neat to see the swans had backup.🤗

[@moonboy5851]

Has to be Perth? The ravens are nasty - I’ve seen them try to eat pigeons. But alas, I have a soft spot for them, they’re incredibly intelligent birds.

[@Nightlightz-ug1vj]

I love all these exotic birbs in one place

[@develop_d7668]

Lol

[@icanseeyou9820]

Nightlightz 24884 ravens? exotic? lmao

[@doubtingthomas6146]

Nightlightz 24884 - Australia. :) Naturally.

[@jnnkmm]

I would love to live in this neighborhood

[@charlessedlacek5754]

Better parents than most people I know.

[@wsl3119]

My two mother bantam chickens beat up a crow too, amazing what mothers do for their young

[@lydiapetra1211]

That's wonderful!

[@raypangyong965]

Like how the other small birds are keeping an eye on the raven too

[@antoikirs6277]

Good example of great parents

[@redcan5254]

Harassment of the highest degree ...

[@pineapple3555]

nickys34 b r u h

[@Reed_0v0_]

Never seen a black swan before, that wing span is amazing.

[@pineapple3555]

Well damn there’s all kinds of really beautiful birds there..

[@mehdisamurai4868]

2:33 That was funny 😁 The Other bird tries 2 times to attack the raven too

[@NathanChisholm041]

Wattle birds and yes they are very aggressive to Ravens as they steal other birds eggs...

[@carmelhudson9811]

I also wondered whether this was in Perth, Western Australia, the Black Swan is our State Emblem on the flag, the Raven I always called it a Crow, I use to feed them at home, is there a difference between the 2 birds?

[@nightlightabcd]

The swans walk like they are limping on both legs! Several different kinds of birds in this video!

[@janetlester7694]

I walk like that when I get out of bed in the morning!!!!..........

[@neilgerace355]

The swans' flight muscles get in the way. It takes a lot of energy to send a swan into the air.

[@labelledamedumanor4876]

If only all parents could be like these Swans.

[@The_Bookshelf_Life]

Wow! So many different bird species.

[@scotslassie6991]

Corvid is definitely playing, being what we call in Scotland “a bit of a cheeky bugger” . I love them and also the swans, many thanks, love from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ❤

[@elisolomon8741]

Looking at the mix of birds, I knew it was Australia and thought it was Centennial Park in Sydney. But this is right across the continent. 4500 miles with a desert in between and the birds are the same.

[@bobhumphries1473]

Hi Eli - many aren’t exactly the same. The Purple Swamphen and Red Wattlebirds are distinct races from those in the east. Most of the waterbirds migrate across the continent, particularly in times of drought, so they are the same in the east and the west.

[@elisolomon8741]

@@bobhumphries1473 thank you, Bob. I appreciate the info.

[@RPandorus]

3:09 I like how there's just a bin chicken coming to check it out

[@NathanChisholm041]

I'm sure there's so bin juice waiting for it.. Lol

[@BirdSpyAustralia]

I love the colour of the Australian Swamphen from the west.

[@bobhumphries1473]

Yep - they are stunning. I've got quite a few more clips of the western race of the Swamphen. For example, see kzbin.info/www/bejne/omTVpnyjZ7uJf5Y

[@littlehell2655]

i like how theyre cleaning the river for their babies

[@NathanChisholm041]

I assume this is Perth WA? Looks a bit like Lake Monger.

[@leonorakristinerozalinamll9473]

Never piss off a mother with kids❤.

[@muhammet9290]

So cute and so beutiful ❤❤❤❤

[@WJack97224]

A mob of crows would have taken one of the cygnets.

[@ardalla535]

So would a cougar. Your point?

[@WJack97224]

@@@ardalla535, It is easy to parry one crow but not easy to fend off several crows.

[@FirestormDDash]

This is exactly how zombies work

[@dpeasehead]

@kkthxk Meany.

[@Dowlphin]

a.k.a. a murder of crows

[@JohnJones-ct9pr]

These two are better parents than an awful lot of human "parents".

[@GplusGains]

I found the self hating human...

[@SpaceDetectiveTravis]

Why is a raven going after cygnets in the first place? Is it a part of their diet similar to Herons & ducklings?

[@piranhaplantX]

In this case, I think it was just doing this for fun. Which might sound like me projecting human emotions, but it actually applies to crows due to their intelligence. They can and will do things purely out of boredom. Which I believe is the case here, since he would have no reasonable way to get at these ducklings while the parents are watching him. But outside of this, they're omnivores and will snatch anything they can get. Which can often mean the chicks or eggs of other species. Though, they would likely group up if they were making a serious go at these ducklings, unless they were undefended.

[@blessethishe]

Plot twist: They hired the Raven to train them on defense against a predator. This was just them practicing.

[@philcarreon4543]

To quote captain kirk; a mother will fight to intensely to protect her children.

[@GplusGains]

If you're going give a quote, then do it accurately.

[@Dowlphin]

They had opportunities to really convince that crow to not keep trying by making contact with it. Too defensive. Might try again later in a moment of lapse of attention. A painful hit on the other hand, an offensive move, would have been memorable.

[@AlbertaGamer]

It's hard to be threatening when you sound like a toy horn

[@ilyaibrahimovic9842]

How much courage does it take to defend against some joker who's less than a quarter of your size and probably no better in weight? And practically two-on-one.

[@dpeasehead]

When all else fails use the "moat."

[@sonial.4618]

Amazing! But weren’t there five cygnets?

[@redmondpeters7162]

Even in the animal kingdom there are bullies. But in the animal kingdom bullying is dealt with not swept under the rug.

[@Alexiully]

I doubt that frustrates the raven, it seems to me it is playing, the way a raven knows to play. The swan cubs are too big and the raven's bick or claw lack power to do any damage to them in hopes of actually feeding on them, and the raven knows that as well. I have seen some ravens hunting sparrows, but nothing above it in size.

[@postcodeox278]

All kids need a father and a mother, and so do cygnets

[@eschwarz1003]

believe that's a large crow

[@footscorn]

Anyone who claims this is an Australian raven and not an Australian crow from this footage is kidding themselves. Even ornithologists have difficulty distinguishing the two species and often have to rely on their calls.

[@alikovacs789]

Naughty raven leave the baby swans alone

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

There were only four little cygnets, I think. Some have as many as ten.... I hope four was the original number in this case ! 😘

[@teewhy6069]

How are the babies so discipline 👍🏽

[@xavierpaquin]

Paralyzing fear

[@petewerner4597]

Raven was bored and wanted to get some attention. He succeeded.

[@onlyhuman1954]

That bloody determined bird!! I was hoping to see dad grab the fecker by the neck and crack him like a whip! 🤬

[@raymondchew8894]

The goose parent going to smack the raven the trouble maker !

[@ABC-abc123-j7s]

take cygnets to the water . smart parent

[@dragonwithamonocle]

Ravens have earned their reputation as carrion birds. They're notorious opportunists, stealing regularly from wolves, bears, coyotes, people... the list goes on. A raven's life rests in their ability to gauge how close is too close, when is the absolute last moment they can get away, precisely how they need to move to dodge and weave. When the smaller bird dive-bombs the raven, you can actually see him turn and open his beak at the other bird. That raven is tracking both swans, the chicks, probably the humans watching, AND the circling smaller bird that I can't identify. I think honestly that the raven is just doing it because it's a fun exercise in multitasking and a good use of its skills in a situation where there is potential to eat a nice, fatty chick with some pals. Don't get me wrong, the raven's being a dick, but he knows he's probably not gonna take a chick successfully, and the parents aren't really expending a significant amount of energy to stop him harassing them. He's just giving it a shot because he's got nothing better to do. Also, smaller birds hate ravens in general because ravens will eat their eggs and chicks because they're easy pickings. That bird probably doesn't care about the other birds' chicks nearly as much as it cares that there's a raven just chilling out where it probably has a nest.

[@DR07921]

The cygnets make a very different cheeping sound then in danger.

[@kathybricco1464]

Is this the same group of swans that five babies recently? Did they lose one or is this a different pair?

[@bobhumphries1473]

Hi Kathy. - this family was near the Frogmouth spot on the south side of the lake in 2019, so I don’t really know...

[@janetlester7694]

All mothers will protect their children with their lives!!!!!!!

[@rockit3422]

You haven’t met my daughter-in-law.

[@ThePalatineHill]

what is that bird on the left at 2:34?

[@bobhumphries1473]

The bird with the red bill is the western race of the Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio bellus. It is much brighter than the astern Australian race.

[@nicog4008]

Thats a #1 dad!

[@WonkyTonkBotty]

1:40 - Random moorhen!

[@chgaming5059]

Raven: I just wanna pec.. I mean pet them

[@ralphturner3798]

I'm curious why the swan is pulling what appears to be seaweed out of the water.

[@bobhumphries1473]

Hi Ralph - all species of swans pull palatable water weeds to the surface for their cygnets to eat. The cygnets’ necks are often too short for them to do it themselves - hence the support from their mother in this case.

[@ralphturner3798]

@@bobhumphries1473 Thanks, Bob.

[@jacobweatherford4696]

I want one these birds

[@Kitties_are_pretty]

Swans are unbelievably strange looking.

[@chriswickarts]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@amandacontreras4648]

Como defienden sus veves

[@irishking1414]

That’s one cheeky raven

[@allenbell3734]

Tough parenting

[@MichealJacksonsFan]

Natures rough 😅 on one hand really don’t want the babies to be harmed and am cheering them on but on the other hand the crows are trying to get a meal 🤷‍♀️

[@deejaydfc]

The Raven was just trying to give the Dad Maury Popovich's number to check the paternity on those white swans but keeps getting blocked by the wife because she knows the truth already.

[@deejaydfc]

Which one is Natalie Portman?

[@pkcc9381]

Black parents white kids, something fishy

[@chocojueenlament5113]

Hoping this is a joke

[@Brinx88]

The babies aren't white.

[@truthfacts5438]

Thats a crow... and it is intended on picking off one o the chicks... (Ravens have white on them and are slightly larger)

[@bobhumphries1473]

Dear Truth Facts - the attacker is an Australian Raven, Corvus coronoides. Please look it up in Wikipedia...

[@SpeakerOfWords]

That's so Raven

[@terrysampson5759]

Maybe the raven thought he was the Black sheep of the family

[@bobhumphries1473]

The Raven is trying to catch and eat a baby swan (or cygnet).

[@PhoenixsArt]

It looks more like he is playing. Ravens are smarter than trying to steal a baby in front of both parents

[@kazakh-interista]

Where is the frustration?

[@Back4Fungame]

it's like a pokemon fight

[@anthonywest7583]

Good parents.

[@jonprou8302]

I think you mean a raven frustrates 2 swans.

[@NunayoBisnez]

Crows and ravens are full of mischief.

[@SyedMujtabaAhmedYsr]

Please inform me to sell the swans pair

[@Alatreon2435]

Why?

[@basilpunton5702]

The Australian raven does not create flocks. Often alone or in a small family group. The little raven flocks. Both are unfortunately called crows in Australia. Left over name from the British in colonial times.

[@michael6255]

Always thought Swans were very angry birds

[@ЮрийАга-л6у]

молодцы отбили атаку

[@duanelohr1869]

I wonder why a swan mom would lead her kids into danger like that?did she do it to teach her kids the real nature of the world? Was she just tired of supporting her kids? I now wonder if animal caring is the same as human caring, and the emotions needed to survive are enough. The thought of animals having their own thoughts has never been addressed, but

[@duanelohr1869]

.

[@duanelohr1869]

@Old Soul dude, you have such a problem, I am there.

[@duanelohr1869]

And woe be on the ones that hurt you.

[@duanelohr1869]

Let me see how to take care of this.

[@mralpha64002]

"Courageous" *3 times the size of the raven*

[@thetwelfth9987]

*Meanwhile casual birds stroll around instead of reporting the child molester*

[@paulkattepogu595]

They did the wisest thing, go back to the water

[@LilacMist]

Aren’t ravens way larger and with round hairy beaks? Looks like a crow tbh but I can’t tell it’s too far away. Thankfully the swans are both parenting otherwise the babies with one parent would make it difficult to survive. A lot of bird passersby, cute to know that the swans recognize fellow neighbors from enemies.

[@HorseWithNoUsername]

Australian ravens are unlike their northern hemisphere counterparts, and are most closely related to Australian crows, which are smaller still.

[@hectorapp7073]

raven was deffending his territory

[@gsamalot]

What does this raven even get out of fucking with these swans