Great to see the recent postings on American Crows and Fish Crows! As fall migration winds down the overnight
communal winter crow roost numbers are growing weekly!
Recent research by Prof. Andrea Townsend at Hamilton College has clarified the seasonal movement patterns of
American Crows, blending observations of migration and nightly roosting. Reports from New England locations like
Mt. Wachusett and Portland indicate that while some crows undertake long-range migratory journeys, others engage
in roosting flights to nearby urban areas. Hamilton’s research shows that northern crows migrate 100-500+ miles
southward in fall, stopping at urban roosts where warmth and food are abundant, such as in Portland and Lawrence.
These roosts play a vital social role, enabling younger crows to learn survival skills from older ones. Townsend’s
work suggests that both migration and roosting behaviors are intertwined, driven by environmental factors and
reflecting complex social structures. Her findings offer new insights into American Crow adaptation and behavior!
In regard to the counting process and accurately documenting the local numbers, the 2023 Audubon Christmas Bird Count
(CBC) for the Andover Circle, the Crow Count recorded 11,600 Crows (including American and Fish Crows), down
from 13,750 in 2022. Over the past 8 years, the numbers have peaked near the end of January. Donna Cooper continues to
coordinate the Andover Circle count each year. Improved counting methods were used, including open-source counting
software and hand counts at the roost, to enhance accuracy. For more details, refer to the newly published roost counting
guide on the main page of our blog.
Crows in the news:
New York Times (Oct. 29, 2024): Fascinating story on Crows, their memories and holding grudges with interview
notes from my friend, Prof. John Marzluff, who joined us in 2019 on a local Crow Patrol outing. John was also a
guest on the Crow Patrol podcast!
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/28/science/crows-grudges-revenge.html
Bird Watcher's Digest: (Sept/Oct 2024) Eight page Species Profile on the Ameerican Crow with the last page dedicated
to the history and geography of winter crow roosts, with highlighted mention of our national roost blog.
Bird Watcher's Digest: (Nov/Dec. 2024) Six page feature story authored by my friend David Bird, asking how "Can Drones
Save Our Birds?" David has also visited the winter crow roost roost in Lawrence. The article mentions the crow roost in
Lawrence and how we are utilizing innovative aerial imaging to significantly enhance and refine the roost counting process.
The numbers at the Lawrence roost are growing weekly in leaps and bounds. Please visit the blog to read the two latest
entries from early November with action photos and dazzling slow motion videos!
