At the risk of burning you out on the topic of fish crows, I'm posting yet another post on our local roost. My neighbor went out on his boat recently to check the roost. They have moved upriver somewhat this year, but the numbers are still high. Check out the pictures and it will give you an idea of how many can crowd into one area of salt water marsh. Amazing.
The crows shown in the pictures are just a fraction of the total. As mentioned in an earlier post, they stage their nightly trip by landing in nearby trees then when the urge hits them, they pour into the marsh grass to roost. This flight lasts well past dark as we have watched with binoculars as the streams of crows come in from several directions to land. Although the daylight diminishes, the crows continue to fly in. I have no idea how long after dark they fly.
With this many crows crowding into one place, they must be shoulder-to-shoulder if not standing on each other's shoulders all night! The last time I shot some of the fish crows at my house (about 10 total, just a few miles away from this roost), most of the crows had poop-stained wings, tails and bodies! In spite of this disadvantage, roosting in large numbers must offer them safety that makes it worthwhile. Guess there is safety (not sanitary) in numbers.
It appears that the numbers of migratory crows have finally built up to normal levels. As mentioned in earlier posts, it seems that the migration has been late this year for most of us and I have also noticed a similar delay for duck migrations in the Southeast. My guess is that it is all a symptom of the el niño we are currently experiencing.
That is your report. Hope you enjoy the enticement to go out and hunt some crows in your neighborhood! Good Luck!
Demi
-- Edited by Island Shooter on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 07:49:12 PM
Impressive amount of Fish Crows Demi, I didn't know they gathered in numbers like this. And you can't burn this old boy out on crow stuff. Great report!
Hunting in Eastern NY is very slow. I've been out the last 2 weekends and crows are not flying at all. We need snow and cold. Taking the day off today. Going back out tomorrow morning.
