Trend Estimates of Common Raven Populations in the United States and Canada, 1966 - 2018
Dates
Publication Date
2021-12-23
Start Date
1966
End Date
2018
Citation
Coates, P.S., Harju, S.M., Dettenmaier, S.J., Dinkins, J.B., Jackson, P.J., and Chenaille, M.P., 2021, Trend estimates of common raven populations in the United States and Canada, 1966 - 2018: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P99CNYHP.
Summary
These data identify the mean population growth rate and ratio change in abundance of common raven (Corvus corax; ravens) populations from 1966 through 2018, delineated by ecoregions defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This enables researchers and land managers to identify regions which may be more heavily affected by growing raven populations. These data support the following publication: Harju, S.M., Coates, P.S., Dettenmaier, S.J., Dinkins, J.B., Jackson, P.J. and Chenaille, M.P., 2022. Estimating trends of common raven populations in North America, 1966–2018. Human–Wildlife Interactions, 15(3), p.5. https://doi.org/10.26077/c27f-e335
Summary
These data identify the mean population growth rate and ratio change in abundance of common raven (Corvus corax; ravens) populations from 1966 through 2018, delineated by ecoregions defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This enables researchers and land managers to identify regions which may be more heavily affected by growing raven populations.
These data support the following publication:
Harju, S.M., Coates, P.S., Dettenmaier, S.J., Dinkins, J.B., Jackson, P.J. and Chenaille, M.P., 2022. Estimating trends of common raven populations in North America, 1966–2018. Human–Wildlife Interactions, 15(3), p.5. https://doi.org/10.26077/c27f-e335
The authors of these data require that data users contact them regarding intended use and to assist with understanding limitations and interpretation. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Purpose
Common ravens have one of the largest distributions of any vertebrate species spanning most of the Holarctic. Their worldwide distribution encompasses large portions of Canada and the western United States, which are the focus of this analysis. Key traits of ravens that enable such a wide distribution include extreme environmental tolerance and high behavioral plasticity. For example, ravens are opportunistic foragers, have an omnivorous diet, and readily exploit novel resources. Numerous studies have demonstrated a consistent and robust link between increasing raven populations and anthropogenic resource subsidies from an expanding human presence in the western United States. Ravens adapt well to anthropogenic landscape modifications that provide supplemental resources, including food, water, nesting sites, and hunting perches. Consequently, in many parts of western North America, raven populations have grown in concert with a persistently expanding human footprint (Leu et al. 2008). In central and eastern North America, ravens appear to be adapting to urban and suburban environments, expanding across large swaths of the continent.
References:
Leu, M., Hanser, S.E. and Knick, S.T., 2008. The human footprint in the west: a large‐scale analysis of anthropogenic impacts. Ecological Applications, 18(5), pp.1119-1139. https://doi.org/10.1890/07-0480.1
