[NatureNS] re the Crow Roosts on Boot Island, King's Co.,

Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:18:54 -0400
From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Cc: Randy Milton <miltongr@gov.ns.ca>
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Thanks again, Randy, from Jim.  Obviously my memory was again flawed by
quite a bit.
----------
From: Randy G Milton <miltongr@gov.ns.ca>
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:35 -0400
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>, Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Subject: Re: re the Crow Roosts on Boot Island, King's Co., and at
Mt. Saint Vincent University

Just located a copy of my thesis in the office and peak roost size was in
the range of 25-27,000 birds. The roost on Boot island was conveniently
located to permit the counting of returning crows along flight lines
originating from Kingsport, out of the Cornwallis, Gaspereau, and Avon
Rivers, and across the Grand Pre dykes.  I do not know how the estimate of
40,000 was obtained during the Kentville roost years.

Regards

Randy

>>> Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> 1/4/2008 9:33 AM >>>
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
>
>
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