avesnoir

est.2007

Crows & Ravens in Culture

When we first started this blog in 2010, we never imagined it would go on to receive millions of views, thousands of comments and scores of citations.  With the rapid growth of internet innovation and niche communities, it is easier than ever to find information about corvids and those who love and study them.  While Avesnoir is no longer updated, we decided to erect this archive of our most loved content as a loving digital monument to our feathered friends. 

archives

Crows,Ravens & The Science of Sleep

Crows,Ravens & The Science of Sleep

By Richard George Crows roost in large, sometimes huge murders (a flock is called a murder) at night. A hundred years ago one could find these roosts just outside villages and towns, and it was thought they did this for safety from dogs, cats and owls that like to nest in human built structures. Now, however, these roosts are most

The Crow & the Fox

The Crow & the Fox

By Forwearemany Jean de La Fontaine (July 8, 1621, Chateau-Thierry, April 13, 1695) was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. While he did not hesitate to borrow freely from other writers, both ancient and modern, Jean de La Fontaine nevertheless created a style and a poetic universe at

Linda Jarvis: Birds of a Feather

Linda Jarvis: Birds of a Feather

The Red Door "Today I heard a raven in the distance. As he flew over me he sent out his throaty, gravelly call. I called back, pretty nicely I might add, but he kept going without answering. However, as he flew by, the whispers of his wings pushing the air landed so quietly on my ears it nearly took my

The 7 Ravens

The 7 Ravens

Ravens appear in fairytales from all over the world, from simple anecdotes of wisdom (Aesop) to elborate illustrated stories (The Brothers Grimm). This tale,like The Twelve Brothers, The Six Swans, and Brother and Sister, features a woman rescuing her brothers. In the era and region in which it was collected, many men were drafted by kings for soldiers, to be

A Murder of Crows

A Murder of Crows

A "˜murder' of crows is based on the persistent but fallacious folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock.

Crowbergs & Crow Dreams by Meri C Fox-Szauter

Crowbergs & Crow Dreams by Meri C Fox-Szauter

Meri C Fox-Szauter has been observing one flock of crows for almost a decade, working from her car studio every day at Acadia National Park, Maine in the North-East USA. Her break through work in drawing crows came a few winters ago when they would land on the asphalt, "...they would fluff out their skirts and become crowbergs. That inspired

Alice Richard’s Dreamland

Alice Richard’s Dreamland

Dreamland is a series from illustrator Alice Richard inspired by the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, intended to accompany the spectacle by the same name played by EidÔloN. As is commonplace with Poe, Crows and Ravens make an appearance throughout the series without having to be intriduced formally by the words. By a route obscure and lonely,Haunted by ill angels

Jungle Crows: Decent Neighbors

Jungle Crows: Decent Neighbors

By haythornthwaite.c Crows in Japan have long had a bad reputation, perhaps moreso than anywhere else. They are prevalent, noisy, and very commonplace but does that mean they should be regarded as vermin?  Colin Tyner, Japanese resident, does not think so. He writes, "The other day, I was looking out of my window and I spotted a large crow's nest

About Aves Noir

Aves Noir is an exploration and celebration of all things inspired by that one most clever,  mysterious, and intriguing of the Feathered Realm – the Corvid.  It was started in 2007 as part of a university project between two friends, a writer and a naturalist and has survived many iterations and culminations. 

Across vast matters of subjects these creatures – from Nutcrackers to Ravens – appear, and at the heart of our love for them nests a common culture appreciating the intellectual, macabre, and somber.

While much of our content has since been archived, we wished to leave the lore, literature and stories intact. In the center of each piece is a scientific passion for birds that we hope connects like minded connoisseurs to shared interests in the arts, film, dance, couture, and  written and entices literary evolution in our readers and encourages you to see crows in a new way.

Special Thanks

Downloads

Looking for an old article that has been archived? It is probably in one of these:

AvesNoir Vol 1, June 2010
AvesNoir Vol 1, July 2010
AvesNoir Vol 1, Aug 2010
AvesNoir Vol 1, Sept 2010

Galleries

I’ve archived some of the popular image collections here:

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