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Hi Joan and others,
A couple of years ago, I first noticed this "pre-roost" while driving home along the 102 just before dusk. I've had the feeling for a number of years that the roost at the Mount may be "full to capacity", so when I saw the roost near the 102, I wondered if it was a new secondary roosting spot just developing.
One question - do these birds fly towards the Mount eventually at dusk?
As part of the Bedford-Sackville Christmas Bird Count, we try to estimate the number of crows roosting at MSVU. It's an interesting challenge and I'm still not convinced that we're using the best approach, but there are only 2 of us. Kathleen has correctly described how and when the crows arrive on campus, although a few early birds do seem to begin to arrive in mid-afternoon. They congregate first at the top of the hill and then eventually roost, filling the trees, within about 100-300 m from the Bedford Highway. Although they are very vocal as they fly down the hill, once all are pretty well settled in for the night (an hour after sunset), you wouldn't know that there are in excess of 6000 crows there!!
My first estimate of the number of roosting crows was about 600-800 in the late '80's. Since then the numbers have gradually increased, although over the past 5-6 years, the numbers have bounced around in the range 6000-8000 birds.
We have tried to estimate the number as the birds fly down the hill but before they are hidden in the many conifers at the bottom of the hill where they cannot be seen. Another approach might be to recruit some volunteers willing to stand at the 4 corners of the roosting area counting birds as they fly in for the night. This would require a 2-hour commitment (from ~3:30 to 5:30 PM one afternoon/evening between Christmas and New Year's). Anyone interested....?
Like Kathleen, I don't know how early in the morning you have to arrive to see the departure flight but I assume that it happens around sunrise. Not being a morning person, I am not interested in engaging in this exercise.
Cheers,
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: joan waldron
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 5:44 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] crow roost
The crow roost that congregates before going, I presume, to the Mount St. Vincent roost, was spectacular tonight. There were so many crows they looked like gnats in the sky and, for me, impossible to count. My condo is adjacent to the 102 highway near the quarries and Blue Mountain Wilderness area so I see the crow roost assembling on most evening's right at sunset. Does anyone monitor this roosting? They seem to have increased hugely this past year.
Joan Waldron
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi Joan and others,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>A couple of years ago, I first noticed this =
"pre-roost" while=20
driving home along the 102 just before dusk. I've had the feeling =
for a=20
number of years that the roost at the Mount may be "full to capacity", =
so when I=20
saw the roost near the 102, I wondered if it was a new secondary=20
roosting spot just developing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>One question - do these birds fly towards the Mount =
eventually=20
at dusk?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>As part of the Bedford-Sackville Christmas Bird =
Count, we try=20
to estimate the number of crows roosting at MSVU. It's an =
interesting=20
challenge and I'm still not convinced that we're using the best =
approach, but=20
there are only 2 of us. Kathleen has correctly described how and =
when the=20
crows arrive on campus, although a few early birds do seem to begin to =
arrive in=20
mid-afternoon. They congregate first at the top of the hill and =
then=20
eventually roost, filling the trees, within about 100-300 m from the =
Bedford=20
Highway. Although they are very vocal as they fly down the hill, =
once all=20
are pretty well settled in for the night (an hour after sunset), you =
wouldn't=20
know that there are in excess of 6000 crows there!! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>My first estimate of the number of roosting crows =
was about=20
600-800 in the late '80's. Since then the numbers have gradually=20
increased, although over the past 5-6 years, the numbers have bounced =
around in=20
the range 6000-8000 birds.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>We have tried to estimate the number as the birds =
fly down the=20
hill but before they are hidden in the many conifers at the bottom of =
the hill=20
where they cannot be seen. Another approach might be to recruit =
some=20
volunteers willing to stand at the 4 corners of the roosting area =
counting birds=20
as they fly in for the night. This would require a 2-hour =
commitment (from=20
~3:30 to 5:30 PM one afternoon/evening between Christmas and New =
Year's). =20
Anyone interested....?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Like Kathleen, I don't know how early in the morning =
you have=20
to arrive to see the departure flight but I assume that it happens =
around=20
sunrise. Not being a morning person, I am not interested in =
engaging in=20
this exercise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Bob</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; =
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dwaldrojo@ns.sympatico.ca =
href=3D"mailto:waldrojo@ns.sympatico.ca">joan=20
waldron</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 30, =
2010 5:44=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NatureNS] crow =
roost</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The crow roost that congregates before =
going, I=20
presume, to the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceType=20
w:st=3D"on">Mount</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">St.=20
Vincent</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> roost, was spectacular tonight. =
There were=20
so many crows they looked like gnats in the sky and, for me, =
impossible to=20
count. My condo is adjacent to the 102 highway near the quarries =
and=20
Blue Mountain Wilderness area so I see the crow roost assembling on =
most=20
evening=92s right at sunset. Does anyone monitor this roosting? They =
seem to=20
have increased hugely this past year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Joan =
Waldron<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P><BR>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG =
-=20
www.avg.com <BR>Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2657 - =
Release=20
Date: 01/30/10 07:35:00<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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