Can only speak for my area which is the Southern Canadian prairies. The first migrants north are always paired couples and they race north to establish nesting territories. These territories are defended against others of their species and fights are common when one pair attempts to drive another off. Same happens when a predators such as a hawk or owl enters their domain.
Later migrants are usually non-breeders, young of last year or other non- breeders. They seem to come later and in larger flocks. Fowl weather often stalls the northward progression of these and small roosts develop for a few weeks or so. These typically gather on garbage dumps, tilled fields, hog operations and other agricultural operations that food can be had. Lots of squawking, frolicking and typical crow behavior is exhibited by them.
Ted
-- Edited by M12Shooter on Thursday 15th of March 2012 10:38:44 PM
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
I am relatively new to the sport and could use some wisdom from the more experienced guys - Question is - what's going on the last couple days ? The weather here in SE PA has been unusually warm for mid-March.....there are a lot more birds around than a week ago, not just around my house, but in the whole area - I'm guessing that the increase is because of migrating, but what is making them raise so much hell ?? They are making an unbelievable racket and swooping around like it's crow mardi gras. Is it because they are mating, nesting, having territorial fights with the out-of-towners? I don't see them chasing hawks, so I'm guessing it's a "crow thing". I sure would like to know so I can figure out how to cash in on it. Thanks.
I think your right with the migrating & nesting. I'm seeing a lot more pairs than flocks in the last couple of weeks, same thing happened here in NY last March.
It's mating season. The two year olds are picking mates. So they dance (swoop) with each other, and they sing (caw, caw, etc), and they play trying to pick mates out. The one year olds stay with mama and papa and help raise the next brood. I believe they keep their mates until one dies and then the following spring they look for a new one. After mates are picked, territory is set up (they travel to old neighbourhoods like to Ted's province) and start building nests, etc. And such is life.
...as I would think this is what came across as being so comical.