APR 25 RAVEN CHICKS HATCH AT TOWER OF LONDON

APR 25  RAVEN CHICKS HATCH AT TOWER OF LONDON

With the Coronavirus pandemic dominating headlines, the DUBER BLOG searches the globe for uplifting stories. This week, we head to London. The Tower of London to be precise. Here, three raven chicks were hatched. Proud parents Huginn and Muninn will oversee the first month of their lives. Ravens grow quickly and quadruple in size in just weeks. Chris Skaife, Tower Ravenmaster, is thrilled: "We're pleased the bloodline is secure. Good news for the Kingdom!"

Are you confused? Let's review the legend. It's said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the Kingdom of England will fall. Apparently, the Welsh attribute ravens with the powers of protection. When the Northeast turret was built in 1078, the superstition was followed. Ravens roamed the White Tower to guard against another French invasion.

For centuries, the ravens thrived. They even survived the Great Fire. Then everything changed in the year 1675. That's when astronomer John Flansteed complained about the ravens the King Charles II. The birds were interfering with his observations and pooping on his telescopes. At first the King agreed, but then advisors warned him of the superstition. He changed his mind and wise King Charles II took it a step further: A Royal decree was issued demanding at least six ravens be kept in the tower at all times. It was also decided to move all astronomers to Greenwich.

Insuring a raven population in the tower wasn't an issue at the time. The native species were welcome scavengers in dirty Tudor London and flourished. Yet as the city urbanized, the large birds found less and less territory to habit. The last wild one was spotted in Hyde Park in 1826. To keep the raven tradition alive, a Ravenmaster was appointed to the Tower of London to tend to the flock. His biggest test came during WWII. German bombing raids scared the birds to death. Literally. Thankfully, one lived. Gripp survived and the Kingdom continued.

Nowadays, science has helped ensure that if England falls...it won't be raven's fault. In 1987, a captive breeding program was launched. Vets clip one of their wings. This painless process throws off their balance and they can't fly far. Even if they do, they are micro-chipped. Most ravens don't want to leave, because they eat so well. Their diet consists of six ounces of raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood. Once a month, they eat an entire rabbit: Fur helps a raven's digestion.

Over time, the ravens have become semi-domesticated pets. They'll pose surprisingly close to the six million annual visitors the Tower receives. Despite their perceived passivity, don't forget: Ravens are ravenous. In 2004, Thor took a peck at a visiting Vladimir Putin. In 1981, Grog flew to Rose & Punchbowl, an East End pub. Just remember: If you meet the ravens, stay calm and don't lose your head like Lady Jane Grey. After her execution in 1554, the birds picked the eyes out of her severed head.