Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

The Way of All Flesh

IMG_4143The other day I wondered what our Common Ravens are eating. They are greatly attracted to carrion; but how much carrion is found in New York City? This young Raccoon was gone the next day: presumably staff cleaned it away. The natural process of decomposition had already begun. Scavenger wasps and flies that lay their eggs on carrion were at work. IMG_4145Granted, this may gross some people out; but without these insects, without all the other carrion-phages, the bacteria, insects, birds, mammals, we would be neck-high in corpses.

4 responses to “The Way of All Flesh”

  1. More of Nature’s sanitation workers!

    Off topic, but have you seen The Creeping Garden at Film Forum? Slime molds!

    1. It’s on my list between De Sica films.

  2. there are Ravens at greenwood Matthew? only heard about the pair at the new park on the edge of sunset park.

    1. I suspect they are related. Very short flight between Bush Terminal and Green-Wood.

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