### p7 raven mating and childrearing habits > Ravens mate for life, and that life could be as long as fifty years. Although when a raven's mate dies, it will take another mate. Mating, however, is reserved for the few who are able to obtain a territory and become a nesting, resident pair. The size of raven territories varies according to the abundance of food. Heinrich argues that unmated ravens flock together in order to compete for food with nesting pairs, who vigorously defend their territory (1989). Large, swirling flocks of ravens and groups of roosting ravens are comprised of those who do not have a territory and cannot nest. One half of raven young do not survive their first year (Heinrich 1999, 74). A raven nest is often refurbished and used by successive pairs of ravens. Ravens generally build their large stick nests on cliff faces or in conifers where it is easier to defend themselves from predators, and they can also build their nests on telephone poles and high-tension power-line towers. The soft inner nest cup is lined with animal fur, shredded bark, wool, or other suitable material. - [[A Storytelling of Ravens by Betty Wheelwright#p7 raven mating and childrearing habits|View in Vault]]