As a very young fledgling, Raz the Raven was found in a slate quarry in Granville, New York in 2005. He was starving with infections in both eyes.

For months, OFES co-founder Craig Newman nursed him back to health, patiently putting drops in Raz’s eyes while jokingly admonishing the bird to “hold still.” Raz now often says “hold still” and a host of other phrases. He is blind in one eye and has impaired vision in the other.

He twists his head at funny angles to see better, and always enjoys raspberries (the reason for his name).