January 2017's Bird Whisperer bird is a Common raven. Ravens are as beautiful as they are intelligent, and are actually one of my favorite birds. They are used throughout various ancient cultures, and symbolize just about anything from trickery to prophecy. I'm a big fan of mythology, and this bird gave me the opportunity to explore a branch that I'm not as familiar with, Norse mythology. Ravens were messengers of Odin, and he is often seen with his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn (thought and memory respectively). This fine fellow is Muninn, as he sought out bodies of slain warriors. There is a poem translated by Henry Adams Bellows that goes:

"O'er Mithgarth Hugin and Munin both
Each day set forth to fly;
For Hugin I fear lest he come not home,
But for Munin my care is more."

The Bird Whisperers is a group of artists painting for their love of birds. Each month we all debut a piece based on the same reference photo.