Dr. John Marzloff
Gifts of the Crow, Challenge of the Raven
Crows and ravens are mischievous, playful, social, and passionate. They have brains that are huge for their body size and exhibit an avian kind of eloquence. They mate for life and associate with relatives and neighbors for years. And because they often live near people—in our gardens, parks, and cities—they are also keenly aware of our peculiarities, staying away from and even scolding anyone who threatens or harms them and quickly learning to recognize and approach those who care for and feed them, even giving them numerous, oddly touching gifts in return. The ongoing connection between humans, ravens and crows—a cultural co-evolution—has shaped both species for millions of years. This talk will review four decades of research on crows and ravens, highlighting ongoing work with ravens, wolves, and people in Yellowstone.
Crows and Ravens are smart and successful, “Bird brain” is a compliment, Ravens exploit wolves and people in Yellowstone as they have for millennia, Be careful how you treat these birds and their relatives as they know you and hold grudges.
Join us for an evening with one of the country’s leading voices on bird behavior and conservation. Marzluff will share what decades of research have taught him about how birds think, adapt, and survive in a changing world, and what that means for how we share space with them, whether in a national park or our own backyards.
About the Speaker
John Marzluff is Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. His research has been the focus of articles in the New York Times, National Geographic, Audubon, Boys Life, The Seattle Times, National Wildlife, Consumer Reports, Time, and Science. PBS’s NATURE featured his raven research in its production, “Ravens,” and his crow research in the film documentary, “A Murder of Crows.” His current research focuses on the interactions of ravens and wolves in Yellowstone. He teaches field ecology courses at the University of Washington and for Yellowstone Forever.
Professor Marzluff has written six books and edited several others. His graduate research in communication, social organization, demography, and foraging behavior was reveled in The Pinyon Jay, 1992, Academic Press (coauthored with his advisor Russell Balda). His book, In the Company of Crows and Ravens (with Tony Angell, 2005 Yale U. Press) blends biology, conservation, and anthropology to suggest that human and crow cultures have co-evolved. This book won the 2006 Washington State Book Award for general nonfiction. With his wife, Colleen, he published Dog Days, Raven Nights (2011 Yale University Press), which combines reflection with biology and the recreational pursuit of dog sledding to show how a life in science blooms. Gifts of the Crow (2012 Free Press, coauthored with Tony Angell) applies a neurobiological perspective to understand the amazing feats of corvids. His Welcome to Subirdia (2014 Yale) discovers that moderately settled lands host a splendid array of biological diversity and suggests ways in which people can steward these riches to benefit birds and themselves. His most recent In Search of Meadowlarks (2020 Yale) connects our agriculture and diets to the conservation of birds and other wildlife He is a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a National Geographic Explorer.
About Virtually There
Virtually There, our popular online speaker series, connects you to the world of birds, wildlife, and conservation — right from home.
We bring together renowned scientists, dedicated biologists, acclaimed authors, and passionate conservationists who are eager to share their groundbreaking work and fascinating stories. Each program invites you to explore the wonders of the natural world while deepening your understanding of the challenges and triumphs of conservation.
Whether you’re a lifelong birder, a budding naturalist, or simply curious about the wild world around us, you’re virtually there with us — discovering, learning, and celebrating the beauty of avian life and beyond.
The Virtually There Speaker Series offers engaging, interactive programs that educate, inspire, and connect. We invite you to join us for another extraordinary year of discovery.
Donation Ticket Option
Attendance at Virtually There is always free, but if you choose the Donation Ticket, your gift directly supports Audubon Everglades’ avian conservation and education programs. Every contribution helps us protect local habitats, provide outreach to schools and communities, and bring meaningful programs like Virtually There to life. Your generosity ensures that we can continue connecting people with birds and the natural world while safeguarding critical habitats for future generations.
With Support
We are very grateful to Linda Macaulay for her support of this program. Linda and her late husband, Bill Macaulay, were longtime benefactors of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the Lab’s Macaulay Library, the archive powering the Merlin Bird ID app, is named in their honor. Linda is herself one of the world’s foremost bird recordists, with nearly 6,000 recordings representing more than 2,800 species in the archive, and she serves as chair of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Administrative Board.