Keke Krák

Short introduction

The Keke Krák is a species of daw native to the Austara Hrís, Skaura Hrís and the Tllen. Although a forest dweller it prefers areas with mountains or hills in sight, so the chance to see them is biggest around the respective forests edges, close to the Central Erana Mountain Range for example. They are notorious for stealing easy pray and shiny things and supposedly laughing at their poor victims.

Appearance, distribution and ecology

The Keke Krák is mostly jet black, except the tips of the wings and the tails, which are dark blue. Their head and back feathers also have a noticable dark blue sheen to them. Their overall appearance is close to that of a crow, albeit smaller and stubby. Also their beaks are rather short and thick.

Most Keke Krák live on the western stretches of the Skaura Hrís, its southern parts along the Sévo Mountains, the southeastern parts of the Skaura Hrís, close to the Úhtisnálbjó and in the western Tllen, as it borders the Central Erana Mountain Range and some areas across the Austara Hrís, especially close to the more hilly areas. They are forest dwellers first, but als venture to higher altitudes, possibly to look for food. Some Keke Krák even nest in the mountains as there is less competition for nesting grounds.

Being omnivores, there is hardly anything, that is not on the menu: Insects, fruit, mushrooms, seeds, carcasses, nuts and roots have all been observed to be eaten. Thanks to their intelligence, the Keke Krák can use simple tools to get access to food or water. They have even been observed in the mountains to drop pebbles onto animals to make them fall down the steep cliffs and feast on the dead. To accomplish that, a dozen or two Keke Krák band together to harass a potential victim.

Otherwise they live in loose flocks, with several flocks living somewhat close to one another. Each flock is made up of breeding pairs. Younglings stay within their flocks during the year they hatch and over the following winter, until they finally wander off, either to join other flocks or to form new flocks of younglings themselves.

Behaviour, cultural role and use

Keke Krák form lifelong relationships with their partners. The males are responsible for building nests. The act of building of nests is also part of the courtship behaviour, as females chose males for their skills in nest-building and for their flight maneuvres, which they have to display around the nesting site. Both partners take turns with breeding and with feeding the chicks. Although their pair bonding lifestyle is very characteristic for the species, individuals also help other pairs to feed their young, should they not find enough food. Thus the entire flock reciprocally helps each other.

Some Skaura Orohlen keep Keke Krák as pets, some even bond with Keke Krák. They are beloved for their shiny black feathers and for the tricks they can perform, thanks to their intelligence. Some can even imitate sounds of musical instruments or voices. The Keke Kráks are mostly collected after storms have knocked their nests down. Searching out nests and taking Keke Kráks out of them is frowned upon, as these highly intelligent birds are well respected.

Only in very rare cases Keke Krák are brought further South, where they are also kept as highly prized pets.