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As a Marine Commando, Michael Chandler knows the magnitude of the task, but in his new role as Raven Master at the Tower of London, legend has it that Britain’s survival now rests in his hands.
It is believed that King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685, was the first to insist on protecting the ravens on the legendary 900-year-old tower.
Earlier, the monarch learned of an ancient prophecy: if the ravens left the fortress, it would fall and the kingdom would perish.
Since then, members of the Tower of London Guards (a ceremonial guard responsible for guarding the Tower of London, especially the Crown Jewels) have taken care of the birds.
Commonly known as the Tower of London Guards, these keepers have been led by a “Master Raven” since the late 1960s, who, under rules laid down by Charles II, must ensure there are always at least six birds living in the Tower.
Michael “Barney” Chandler, 57, is the sixth person to take on the august role since March.
Chandler, wearing a black and red uniform and a round, flat-brimmed hat, commands a four-man team responsible for feeding, caring for and monitoring the crows.
– ‘They are characters’ –
Chandler, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during his time in the Royal Marines, had no particular interest in birds before arriving at the Tower 14 years ago.
“Initially, what drew me to the Ravens was the legend of the organization, and then coming here and watching them play and working with them…it all came naturally,” Chandler said of his career progression.
“I’m in love with crows,” he added, praising their intelligence.
“They are individuals and characters just like us,” he said.
Chandler explains that there are currently seven ravens roosting in the old prison and royal fortress, one more than is needed to avert disaster.
When AFP visited the tower recently, two of the birds – Edgar and Harris – were in no rush to eat their breakfast – two dead chicks, which Chandler fed through the bars of the enclosure.
Their companions — Poppy, Rex (the most recent arrival was named in honor of King Charles III), Georgie and Jubilee — are already outside, wandering among the tourists, who number about three million a year.
There is also the seventh sheep, Branwen, who has refused to sleep with the other sheep for several years.
“They are very territorial birds. So even if we let them out during the day, they won’t go anywhere,” he explained.
Even so, a few feathers on one of their wings are shortened to prevent them from flying too high.
– “Serving His Majesty” –
The life span of the tower’s crows is about 20 years, while the life span of wild crows is 10 to 15 years. The oldest crow in the tower lived for 44 years.
These playful and sociable birds sometimes startle visitors who aren’t expecting to see them so close perched on stairs or railings.
“I once saw a crow stick its nose into a shopping bag and steal a cheese straw from a school kid’s lunch box,” Chandler recalled.
“They serve His Majesty like his own personal guard,” he said, assuring that the current King Charles “checks on them regularly, as does his mother”.
Another major responsibility the veteran and other prison officers have is protecting the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey after her death in September 2022.
“This is the proudest moment of my life,” the father of four said, “but you’re not supposed to tell my wife!”
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