Photo: 1-30-20 juvenile male Mearn's coyote leaping to top of barrier wall. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
While hiking the desert arroyo this morning, I told my imaginary white wolf avatar, "Kobe," to bring me coyotes and ravens for a photo op (my version of the Native American "spirit animal" concept, except that I know it's my own imagination).
It's been too cold for me to hike at sunrise, when the coyote pack is in the arroyo, and I missed them.
I hadn't seen the Chihuahuan raven chicks for a few days either.. just the parents, working on their nest.
I had barely formed the command in my mind, when I peered out of my coat hood and the (next to youngest) male juvenile Mearn's coyote was standing only a few yards away, looking at me, quietly waiting for me to notice him.
At the same time, one of the Chihuahuan raven chicks flew across the arroyo and landed on the telephone pole above us.
Ravens and coyotes are enemies, so I was afraid to acknowledge my friendship with either of them, for fear of offending the other one.
The Chihuahuan raven father had acted agitated around coyotes, but his chicks had seen me with the coyotes, and were apparently OK with it.
Both raven and coyote waited while I gazed adoringly into their eyes, then the raven buzzed my head and flew away, without comment.
After the raven left, the coyote turned away slightly, started to take a step, looked back at me over his shoulder, and waited. He did this several times, then trotted away, pausing occasionally to wait for me.
As soon as I began following the coyote, three other coyote siblings materialized out of the sagebrush and began trotting single file up the hillside.
I couldn't keep up over the rough terrain, and by the time they leaped up on the barrier wall, I lagged far behind.
One mystery; a few days ago, the patriarch father raven buzzed my head, then flew straight away from me, making bubbling "krrr-krrr-krrr-krrr-krrr" sounds, jerking his wings with each "krrr" sound and wingbeat.
Seen from behind, he was bouncing along like an "M"-shaped rear-view mirror ornament on elastic string.
After a quick, imaginary "mental inquiry" I decided the raven might be informing me about new nesting area boundaries, since he and his mate have been busy in that general area. Dunno, for sure, of course.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Trump's wall at work ?
Cast1es
Level 9
Jan 31, 2020
1
That is not the orange anuses wall, his blew down.
I have only ever seen one coyote, it was over near Naselle, Washington, on a road. Kate and I drove up to it slowly. It ran off the road and into the forest.
dalefvictor
Level 8
Jan 31, 2020
1
I knew a pair of eastern wolf-hybrid coyotes that lived over the hill from our family farm near Morehead, KY. I mostly followed their adventures through their tracks since they had hunting runs at 3 AM. This local Mearn's coyote pack is the first one that has assumed I belong with them. Also, the Cooper's hawks, Chihuahuan ravens, sharp-shinned and red-tailed hawks all act like I'm one of them and greet me enthusiastically. What is it with Albuquerque animals and birds??
@birdingnut When I lived in New Mexico (Zuni) the world was different, took some time to learn all the world is not the same. Kind of the same feeling here in Astoria, Or. I think it is all the wildlife here. Today I had morning break with three crows. I call one George, the other Gracie, the other I have not a name for.
We have three groups of coyotes living within a half mile or so of us.
Unfortunately the big property across the street got sold and half of it split into half-acre lots so we don't see the coyotes as much any more.
We know the coyotes are still around because we hear them at night. The groups get each other going yipping and howling. But I'm sure they'll get forced out of town as properties get houses. 
When we first moved in to our house 20 years ago we'd see deer, javelina, coyotes, quail, skunks and even occasionally raccoons.
The coyote picture is out the house front window toward the mailbox. And the javelina and quail are just outside the porch gate.
But now I'm afraid the increased activity has chased most of the animals away. Even the quail don't come around as much any more.
Except for the property across the street there aren't any new houses -- but the streets definitely aren't as empty as they used to be.
@RichCC Nice pics!
So far, in this desert Albuquerque subdivision, the coyotes, greater roadrunners, Gambel's quail, Cooper's hawks, Chihuahuan ravens, etc. seem to have taken advantage of the human population.
I see javelina tracks in the arroyo in the mornings, but I've never seen them during the day-perhaps because of the local coyote pack.
The bird feeders help sustain quail, the increased bird activity at the feeders attracts Cooper's hawks, the trees in the subdivision supply nesting places for the hawks and ravens, garbage feeds the coyotes.
Studies reveal that 20% of the suburban coyote diet is feral cat, but so far, even Chihuahua dogs running loose on the streets seem safe. Perhaps the local coyotes find enough trash to eat.
They accept Fergie, but it might just be a courtesy to me.
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