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Thanks for this, Randy and Bob. My recollection from Randy's figures is that the peak roosting number on Boot Island occurred in late January? and was close to 40,000? crows -- hence that number of 40,000 that was often used for years by the media when the post-Boot-Island crows were a big problem in downtown Kentville!? Cheers from Jim in Wolfville ---------- From: Randy G Milton <miltongr@gov.ns.ca> Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:57:49 -0400 To: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> Subject: Re: FW: [NatureNS] The Crow Roost at Mt. Saint Vincent University Hello Jim: Not directly relevant to the exchange, but you recall the roost on Boot Island in the late 1970s. If my memory serves me well, the peak roost size was 25-27,000 birds. My banding of roost attending birds had many recoveries in Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton island (one from Newfoundland), suggesting their place of origin. Anecdotal evidence (personal and B. Forsythe observations) suggest many local birds did not attend the roost, but remained in areas where breeding was known to have occurred the previous spring/summer. On several occasions I followed birds from the roost as they flew west. The numbers rapidly diminished at 15 km but a very small number could be followed up to 30 km before mixing with the Berwick roosting birds occurred. In addition, winter recoveries of banded birds were within a 30 km radius of the Boot Island Roost. All the best in 2008 Cheers Randy Randy Milton Manager - Wetlands and Coastal Habitats Program Department of Natural Resources 136 Exhibition Street Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada Tel: 902-679-6224 Fax: 902-679-6176 e-mail: miltongr@gov.ns.ca >>> Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> 1/3/2008 6:35 PM >>> ---------- From: Bob McDonald <bobathome@hfx.eastlink.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:33:10 -0400 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] The Crow Roost at Mt. Saint Vincent University Hi Lance and others interested, I suppose that I know as much as anyone does about the Mount roost. I first noticed the large number of crows in early evening during the winter of 1987-88 or so. I did not keep any records of numbers of birds using it in these early days but "counting the crows at the Mount roost" is the last thing we now do on the Bedford-Sackville CBC, so I do have recent numbers. Our most recent "guesstimate" was 6300 birds (28 December 2007). Last year's estimate was 8500 and the year before that was, I believe, 5800. It is likely, given the difficulty of estimating numbers under these conditions, that these numbers may be the same within "experimental error". These numbers however are considerably higher than those estimated in the late 1990's and early 2000"s. I will dig out the data which I have both to satisfy my own curiosity and yours. Regarding how far these birds might disperse during the day, I have only anecdotal information. They certainly come across the Basin and from Bedford. They also have been seen flying in the direction of the city from the airport. However, there may be other roosts around the city of which I am unaware. For example, one late afternoon/early evening I noticed numbers of crows flying WEST across Parkland Drive, rather than EAST towards the roost. At one point some years ago I tried to collect information using this forum about other crow roosts in and around the city but the response was minimal, so perhaps there are few others nearby. If I am successful in getting more information, I will post another message. Best wishes to all for a very Happy New Year. Bob McDonald Halifax Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Mount Saint Vincent University ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laviolette, Lance (EXP)" <lance.laviolette@lmco.com> To: "NatureNS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:25 AM Subject: [NatureNS] The Crow Roost at Mt. Saint Vincent University >> Hi everyone, >> >> I've had an inquiry about the crow roost at Mt. Saint Vincent >> University. Can anyone tell me anything about it and its history such >> as how long it's been there? How many crows use it? From how far away >> might the birds be coming to use it? >> >> All the best, >> >> Lance > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1207 - Release Date: 1/2/2008 > 11:29 AM > >
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