I need help with a new raven visitor, please?
Thank you in advance for your time; any and all advice is appreciated. I wanted to seek out those who were knowledgeable about corvids cause I'm really out of my depth.
There is a really big raven that has started visiting my house in the past four days. And that's really cool! It's rare I get to see such a big one so close! Unfortunately, it's visiting solely to swoop at the mourning doves that are nesting in the hanging planter in the eaves just outside my front door. Which is... less than ideal. Those doves have nested there every year for a long time, and my parents are very attached to them (most especially my father, who has dementia. It's a lot to calm him down).
I absolutely don't want to harm any bird involved. And I hear ravens are VERY smart, so I feel doubtful there's much I could do to deter it with shiny tape or fake statues. But I really don't want it to get at the chicks. They need at least a week before they're big enough to go to ground.
Is there anything I can do? I know this sounds like a "have you cake and eat it too" situation, but would leaving food for the raven help? Is this a "circle of life" situation? Should I leave it be? Please help, crowbros!