The official title of Ravenmaster is only fifty years old, though the role is far older, and Barney Chandler is the sixth holder of the post. He is charge of the health and welfare of the ravens, who usually roam freely by day and sleep in cages at night.
Duties include maintaining the birds' enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and keeping them fed on their preferred diet of raw meat supplemented by the occasional treat of a hard-boiled egg or a hardtack soaked in blood.
"They're carrion birds," said Chandler. "They'll eat almost anything."
The birds' feathers are trimmed to keep them from flying away, although they occasionally escape. According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a bird named Grog flew off in 1981 and was last seen outside an East End pub.
Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and around the world during 24 years in the Royal Marines, has been on bird handling courses and had other formal training for his role.
--DaCootFlyingAway
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