Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
For those who don't know, I have had a set of web pages about crows up for 15 years now, including http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowfaq.htm, which answers a lot of questions like these. Best, Kevin Kevin J. McGowan, Ph.D. Instructor Home Study Course in Bird Biology Investigating Behavior: Courtship and Rivalry in Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 k...@cornell.edu 607-254-2452 Do you know about our other distance-learning opportunities? Visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses and learn about our comprehensive Home Study Course in Bird Biology, our online course Investigating Behavior: Courtship and Rivalry in Birdshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/courtship/, our Be A Better Birder tutorialshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/home/tutorial/, and our series of webinarshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/home/webinars/. Purchase the webinars herehttp://store.birds.cornell.edu/category_s/55.htm. From: bounce-112890972-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-112890972-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Sue Rakow Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 10:52 AM To: Anne Clark Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.commailto:anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
Sue, thanks for enjoying the list and for being so eager to learn. All of us who admire, respect and enjoy crows are trying to retire the collective noun of murder as it can either imply that crows are evil or that they should be murdered. Another term could be Congress of crows (which in this day and age can also be pejorative) or can also be a Muster. Which would seem appropriate especially at this time of year as they gather or when they all raucously mob a Great-horned Owl. I like Muster, the definition is apropos. Keep watching!!! Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com wrote: This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
MUSTER . Would that be only used among us locals? Jae On Mar 4, 2014, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com wrote: Sue, thanks for enjoying the list and for being so eager to learn. All of us who admire, respect and enjoy crows are trying to retire the collective noun of murder as it can either imply that crows are evil or that they should be murdered. Another term could be Congress of crows (which in this day and age can also be pejorative) or can also be a Muster. Which would seem appropriate especially at this time of year as they gather or when they all raucously mob a Great-horned Owl. I like Muster, the definition is apropos. Keep watching!!! Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com wrote: This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Don't ask what your bird club can do for you, ask what you can do for your bird club!! ')_,/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
No according to ask.com it's an actual alternative. Spread it far and wide. Linda On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 12:03 PM, J. Sullivan blueheron...@yahoo.com wrote: MUSTER . Would that be only used among us locals? Jae On Mar 4, 2014, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com wrote: Sue, thanks for enjoying the list and for being so eager to learn. All of us who admire, respect and enjoy crows are trying to retire the collective noun of murder as it can either imply that crows are evil or that they should be murdered. Another term could be Congress of crows (which in this day and age can also be pejorative) or can also be a Muster. Which would seem appropriate especially at this time of year as they gather or when they all raucously mob a Great-horned Owl. I like Muster, the definition is apropos. Keep watching!!! Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com wrote: This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
Recently, I found 2 dead crows near each other. I was surprised to find this. Is this unusual? -Original Message- From: Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com To: Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com Cc: Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com; cayugabirds Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Tue, Mar 4, 2014 11:02 am Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill Sue, thanks for enjoying the list and for being so eager to learn. All of us who admire, respect and enjoy crows are trying to retire the collective noun of murder as it can either imply that crows are evil or that they should be murdered. Another term could be Congress of crows (which in this day and age can also be pejorative) or can also be a Muster. Which would seem appropriate especially at this time of year as they gather or when they all raucously mob a Great-horned Owl. I like Muster, the definition is apropos. Keep watching!!! Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com wrote: This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill
I agree, Linda. Muster seems quite appropriate. Thanks. On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 1:11 PM, jensdre...@aol.com wrote: Recently, I found 2 dead crows near each other. I was surprised to find this. Is this unusual? -Original Message- From: Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com To: Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com Cc: Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com; cayugabirds Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Tue, Mar 4, 2014 11:02 am Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill Sue, thanks for enjoying the list and for being so eager to learn. All of us who admire, respect and enjoy crows are trying to retire the collective noun of murder as it can either imply that crows are evil or that they should be murdered. Another term could be Congress of crows (which in this day and age can also be pejorative) or can also be a Muster. Which would seem appropriate especially at this time of year as they gather or when they all raucously mob a Great-horned Owl. I like Muster, the definition is apropos. Keep watching!!! Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 10:52 AM, Sue Rakow sue.ra...@gmail.com wrote: This is very helpful information! Thank you so much for the complete picture. I am learning so much from being on this list serve. I am very grateful! Sue Rakow On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: These groups are winter roosts, and they are nothing new in crow life. Despite what urban residents sometimes think, crows didn't start gathering when we set out cities for them to use. Roosting in groups at any time of year may offer safety in numbers from night predators, such as Great Horned Owls. In winter, birds living in northern areas that usually have constant snow cover for months do migrate south--Canada, areas of New England. Crows don't necessarily have a particular area they migrate TO. They may go as far as an area that is usually ok for foraging, perhaps one that they are familiar with from previous migrations. There they form flocks that are made up of migrants as well as wide-foraging locals. If it gets unusually snowy and cold, they may move further south. (We really don't know much of the repeat migratory routes of individual crows. We do know that birds tagged in Ithaca in winter are then seen on territories in Canada, VT, New Hampshire in summer, and that some birds RAISED in Ithaca have been observed or shot in winter, in such places as Maryland, West VA, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Cortland, Auburn, Geneva) In the winter flocks, birds are foraging in open fields and off familiar areas. During foraging, flocks offer some safety in numbers to detect predators in day (hawks, hunters, whatever). At night the flocks flock up still more in places that offer good roosting sites, which probably includes wind breaks, places from which owls can be detected at night. So they are probably gathering both for safety in numbers and also because they all agree on what makes a good site. Cities may offer fewer predators, but also the lights may allow them to see the predators. Finally roosting in flocks that include birds that have sampled food sources widely may allow birds to find new food sources, perhaps by following the most assured and directed birds leaving the roost. So--Upstate NY has its own crows and is ideally positioned for northern crows--so flocks become big. They like the agricultural fields interspersed with trees and lots of running water sources (which may be important in cold winters)...and we also offer lots of smaller cities, with large groups of lit trees in their downtowns or college campuses. These seem to be attractive. Mid-late March is the start of the breeding season and flocking crows will be returning to their breeding latitudes. Our Ithaca pairs are already calling on territory during daytimes. As I say, some of this story is surmised from the patterns, not pinned down with hard data on individuals! We know what our tagged birds do, when we can follow them. But we would love to have gps data coming in from our birds, such as the snowy owls and golden eagles give their researchers. Bring on the Tiny Tags! Anne On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Sue Rakow wrote: I observed the murder of crows on Sunday evening. It was stunning. I would like to know more about why they gather in such large groups. Are they on the move or are they local? Can anyone help me understand? Thanks. Sue Rakow -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave *Archives:* The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net *Please submit your observations to eBird!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave *Archives:* The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net *Please submit your observations to eBird
