The past three mornings, I was sitting, getting coffeed-up whilst reading up on my PC, the usual criminal activities in The Swamp, at my usual spot by the window. Then, at the usual time about 20 min. before sunrise, came the usual crow racket. But this time (Sat.) there was considerably more sound. So I peeked through the blinds at the yet darkened sky and saw well more than a hundred flying by, southward. Same thing on Sunday, and this a.m. Also, this evening with very high winds coming (west) from the Big Lake, another couple hundred bandits were flying about looking as if they might be seeking their pals at an overnight roost.
This made me recall recent discussions on how the weather has been delaying the southward movement from way up there by Ted and other locales in higher latitudes. Now, as Big Honkers will probably agree, we don't get groups this size except (of course) until after the AUG-SEP season ends, (usually 1 or 2 OCT). This year, a month late, sorta fits in with the aforementioned discourse on, "Where the heck are the crows?"
Just wondering. How bout' you, BH? What have you been seeing?
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
I also have noticed a few pods of birds in increased numbers and in non-traditional locations. I have not seen any high flying strings of birds that just keep coming and coming. But, I would not put too much stock in that observation as you have to be in the right place at the right time to see that.
I have not scouted this month, well, quite simply because I cannot hunt them anyway.
I also have noticed a few pods of birds in increased numbers and in non-traditional locations. I have not seen any high flying strings of birds that just keep coming and coming. But, I would not put too much stock in that observation as you have to be in the right place at the right time to see that.
BH
Unlike some of our brethren who live near and/or know where the really big flyways are, I have never seen heard of the huge commuting routes to/from a big roost or migratory flyways here in MI. The one I did see is the time when I was traveling through KY a few years ago on I-75 and saw the very large roost just off of the Interstate. Very thrilling, but being unarmed/unlicensed at the time, a pain.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
Her in NH we are on track for the warmest October since the late 1800's. I assume it's a factor in the much fewer number of crows we have had to shoot at this fall. We only started to see a few migrating balls last Friday and then it shut off when some bad weather came in. Very few days have had a NW or N wind direction, in fact most days the wind has had a southerly component. Canada geese have also been very late to show up in any number as well. To give some perspective the number of crows we have shot this fall is around 70% less than last year. We have three weeks before our coastal duck season starts and we turn our attention to that. Hopefully between now and then they will show up in greater numbers. Fall crow season closes 11/30.
Well NHC one year the crows showed up late but too late for me in any case as the season ended about 3 days later I think...a virtual river of crows about 15 crows wide and about 6 deep(?) and this river seemingly went on and on...I'd guess about 15(?) minutes tops but seemingly a mile long. This isn't commonplace here in NH but I was already watching incoming birds in the grouping area before they slipped off into their roost for the night. Anyways this new bunch came out of the spiraling down as if a huge crow tornado.The numbers in fact told me they would not be around long....this sized flock would cover that small neighborhood with contemptuous ease...not even those left wing liberals would long tolerate that...!
Naturally don't have any idea if that will happen again this year but it's like window shopping for me; I don't like looking at what I cannot have...! Interestingly enough that was the year about 5(?) weeks after you two had your annual hundred something birds day...totally caught me by surprise all those crows-who would have thought?!?! Of course they'd be in no mans land so no way to get at them! I'd rather they come down a little bit at a time but supposing one could shoot at them? That many crows would just head out all at once...so having several thousand means nothing only some one will get one or two!
I think that your annual shoot will be a little later but just keep your eyes open so you don't miss it. Otherwise in my old area there currently isn't much around..very very sporadic. None the less by what might be the locals behavior I know someone was there before me last week end..oh well and that really stunk!
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Top Cat Statutes never replaced or rewrote the constitution!
Colder than the hubs of hell here in Manitoba....crows for the most part have left for the south. Couple inches of snow forecast for tomorrow.
Ted
This week will tell the tale for that annual shoot of numbers..supposed to be some kind of wintry perspiration this week end Sunday and that always pushes the crows ahead of it....gee I would have thought Manitoba was crow country?
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Top Cat Statutes never replaced or rewrote the constitution!
Appreciate the information, helps with what I and others are seeing here. The lack of crows on good property when prime food is abundant has ben the norm here with a few (very) exceptions. Hope when I get back they will have moved down this way, my trigger finger needs some exercise
Just to let everyone know... I've seen high strings of nasty boogers crossing the DE/MD line headed South by the hundreds the last few days. Had one such bunch (20-30) come to my calls yesterday, but they stayed high, sending only a couple of nasty boogers down to scope things out. Knocked 2 out and the rest kept heading South. Be ready ya'll, they're on the way!!
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Old Ironworkers never die, they just rust away - Bob Harrington
