From wondering what sounds Zachariah (Zach, for short) might imitate first (a nearby barking dog is a good bet), to relaying stories of how cleverly he hid an egg yolk in his enclosure, to discussing his musical preferences (Carole King, Bonnie Raitt, and Pink), you might think the staff of the Audubon Environmental Education Center were at the playground, comparing notes on their developing toddlers.

But Zach is no toddler — he's a mature Raven, one of the newest of Audubon's team of Avian Ambassadors. But his personality makes it hard not to anthropomorphize — as EEC Education Director Lauren Parmalee and Education Specialist Sharon Riley are finding out.

"Ravens are very intelligent birds," said Parmalee. "They are playful, they mimic, they use tools, and they even get bored." Ravens have been known to use snow, sticks, pinecones and other found objects to entertain themselves. Tricksters that prank on other Ravens, gesture to communicate, identify and empathize with other birds, they can even learn to imitate human speech. Keeping Zach entertained has become part of Riley's duties, and she has been experimenting with different types of music to help keep Zach calm and happy. Carole King has emerged a clear front rummer, with Bonnie Raitt and Pink not far behind. "He likes strong women," said Riley.

To a novice, it might be easy to mistake a really big crow for a raven, but in fact they aren't that difficult to tell apart. They are about the size of red tail hawks, with big beaks and a thick neck. In flight, they soar like hawks (and have even been observed flying upside down.) When they vocalize, their sound isn't the "caw" associated with crows. "It's a gronk," said Parmalee — as she, for lack of a better word, gronked.

Along with two Red-tailed Hawks, two Saw-whet Owls and a Great Horned Owl who are also currently acclimating to life in Rhode Island, Zach came from Maine following the retirement of Hope Douglas, who ran a bird rescue called Wind Over Wings in the town of Dresden. He ended up there following an injury which was survivable for captivity, but left him unreleasable back to the wild. He appeared in educational programs with Douglas' organization, and that is what he will do at the EEC. So while Zach will not be on display (federal regulations allow organizations like Audubon to display an individual animal or use it in education programs, but not both) you will be able to see him at special events — the first of which will be at 11:15 a.m. during Audubon’s Perfect Pumpkin Party on Saturday, Oct. 28.

It's a balancing act, debuting a Raven this close to Halloween. As Audubon's Hope Foley wrote, "…literature and folklore haven’t always been kind to the Raven. With its sleek black feathers and piercing eyes, this bird has long been associated with the dark stories of Edgar Allan Poe and old European tales of misfortune. They have traditionally been depicted as the bad guys – even as a collective group they are called an unkindness of Ravens."

It's a reputation that is undeserved, and will soon be dispelled for visitors who have the opportunity to meet this unique bird.
Zach is a lucky fellow who came to Audubon from a wonderfully caring environment, but now, it would seem he's found his forever home. Asked if he could imagine a better place to live (and work) out his days, Zach would probably find "nevermore" a bit of a mouthful (despite Poe's mammoth imagination), but he could certainly gronk his approval.

In addition to Audubon’s Perfect Pumpkin Party, which will be held on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with Zach making his appearance at 11:15), he will be making a guest appearance at Audubon's Thanksgiving celebration on Friday, Nov. 24. Visit asri.org for more details.