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Ravens normally pair off for life, but one of the birds at the Tower, Munin, has managed to get her first two mates killed. ONE OF THEM HAS EARNED THE NICKNAME “THE BLACK WIDOW.” She has her own private box inside the Queen’s House, which she reaches by climbing a tiny ladder. Merlina, the star raven, is a bit friendlier to humans but doesn’t get on with the rest of the birds. One of the ravens doesn’t join the others in their nighttime lodgings. AFANALYeAQ- Ravenmaster January 28, 2016

THEY GET A LULLABY.Įach evening, Skaife whistles a special tone to call the ravens to bed-they’re tucked into spacious, airy cages to protect them from predators such as foxes. (“And what they nick off the tourists,” Skaife says.) He has also seen a raven attack and kill a pigeon in three minutes. The birds are fed nuts, berries, fruit, mice, rats, chicken, and blood-soaked biscuits. He did, however, have to complete a five-year apprenticeship with the previous Ravenmaster. The Ravenmaster at the time "saw something in him," Skaife says, and introduced him to the ravens, who apparently liked him-and the rest is history. Skaife started out as a regular Yeoman Warder who had no particular experience with birds. Skaife served for 24 years-he was a machine-gun specialist and is an expert in survival and interrogation resistance. MILITARY SERVICE IS REQUIRED.Īll Yeoman Warders must have at least 22 years of military service to qualify for the position and have earned a good-conduct medal. Recently, Mental Floss visited him to learn more about his life in service of the ravens. Skaife has worked at the Tower for 11 years, and has many stories to tell. According to a foreboding legend with many variations, if there aren’t at least six ravens living within the Tower, both the Tower and the monarchy will fall. His job is to maintain the health and safety of the flock of ravens (also called an “unkindness” or a “conspiracy”) that live within the Tower walls. There are 37 Yeoman Warders, popularly known as Beefeaters, but Skaife has what might be the coolest title of them all: He is the Ravenmaster. Christopher Skaife is a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, an ancient fortress that has been used as a jail, royal residence, and more.