Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Ann Mitchell 
I agree, Linda. Muster seems quite appropriate. Thanks.


On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 1:11 PM,  wrote:

> Recently, I found 2 dead crows near each other.  I was surprised to find
> this.  Is this unusual?
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Linda Orkin 
> To: Sue Rakow 
> Cc: Anne Clark ; 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  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  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
>>&

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread jensdreamb 
Recently, I found 2 dead crows near each other.  I was surprised to find this.  
Is this unusual?



-Original Message-
From: Linda Orkin 
To: Sue Rakow 
Cc: Anne Clark ; cayugabirds 
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  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  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


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Linda Orkin 
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  wrote:

> MUSTER .
>
> Would that be only used among us locals?
>
> Jae
>
> On Mar 4, 2014, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin  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  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  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

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread J. Sullivan 
MUSTER .

Would that be only used among us locals?

Jae 

> On Mar 4, 2014, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin  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  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  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
 --
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 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
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 Surfbirds
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 Please submit your observations to eBird!
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>> 
>> --
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>> Please submit your observations to eBird!
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> bird cl

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Linda Orkin 
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  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  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

RE: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Kevin J. McGowan 
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 
Birds<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/courtship/>, our Be A Better Birder 
tutorials<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/home/tutorial/>, and our series 
of webinars<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/courses/home/webinars/>. Purchase the 
webinars here<http://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 
mailto: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
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Sue Rakow 
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  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
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows on South Hill

2014-03-04 Thread Anne Clark 
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!
> --


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ARCHIVES:
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