Date: 12/14/25 10:28 am From: james wilson <jfwilson54...> Subject: [MDBirding] The Shirlington winter crow roost amazing crow show -- also nightly through February!
There was also a presentation and viewing of the Shirlington winter crow
roost, Saturday Dec. 13, sponsored by Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and
DC Bird Alliance. As at North Bethesda, participants got an awesome crow
show. And this show also continues nightly all winter for anyone who would
like to see it, here are my suggestions:
1. I recommend viewing from parking garage just behind the Shirlington
Library and Harris Teeter there, 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington. Drive or
elevator up to the top floor of the parking garage.
2. Dress warmly, bring binoculars and camera and tripod.
3. Aim to arrive about 10-15 minutes before sunset, that's about 4:30 over
the coming weeks.
4. At first you will not see crows anywhere. Looking south you will see
Shirlington House apartments and a ridge of trees off to the west. This is
the staging site, through the binoculars you will start to see crows
accumulating along there. But in about 15-20 minutes the sky will be full
of thousands of crows going every which way, very loudly.
5. The main show lasts about 20 minutes. As darkness falls the action and
sound will decline but not end. The crows leave most of the staging areas
and collect around Shirlington House, which is the roost site.
6. Another great place to see the show from up close is the Abingdon
Elementary School parking lot.
Enjoy this amazing bit of nature.
Jim
On Monday, November 24, 2025 at 7:09:15 PM UTC-5 james wilson wrote:
I went down to watch the awesome staging at sunset (from the parking garage
adjacent to the shops and restaurants). After dark I found that indeed,
the crows roost in the trees around Shirlington House (in front, behind,
and west end) and in the trees in the adjacent apartments to the west, Park
Shirlington. I am interested in any additional intelligence anyone might
have about this roost.
Jim
On Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 6:33:51 PM UTC-5 james wilson wrote:
The winter crow roost near Shirlington is also happening again this year, I
observed it on Nov. 5 and saw birds in large numbers. There was
substantial staging around Shirlington House and along the ridge west of
there, but I could not find the actual roost, despite interviewing various
local residents. If anyone has insights on where these crows actually
spend their winter nights I would love to hear it. The Reagan Airport TDWR
weather radar captures these crows coming and going, I have a lot of
information about where they spend their days (out past Burke to the west,
south to Groveton and beyond), but haven't found the roost area.
FYI there will be a presentation and walking tour about the North Bethesda
roost, and winter crow roosts in general, on December 7, I will post about
that separately.
Thanks for anything anyone can share about this fascinating bit of bird
social behavior.
Jim
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 1:31:17 PM UTC-5 james wilson wrote:
There is also a very substantial winter crow roost near Village at
Shirlington (part of Arlington). Early this month I observed the crows
arriving from the roof of the parking garage at the end of the shopping
area, it was very dramatic.
I also spend time in the Lincolnia neighborhood of Alexandria, which is
about 4 miles southwest of Shirlington, and I have observed a stream of
crows heading toward the Shirlington roost, roughly flying along Braddock
Road, lasting about 40 minutes!
As for the North Bethesda roost (a separate post), I'd be very interested
in any knowledge folks have about where exactly this roost is overnight (I
found some at Shirlington House Apts. on 31st Street, but far from the
total) and where the crows head to during the days. If you've witnessed
the streams in and out, where, when, roughly how many, direction would be
appreciated.
Thanks again
Jim Wilson
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