Winter Crow Roost: dazzling flight bursts!
March 24, 2026: under mostly clear skies with a light southwest breeze and a mild 45°F evening, set out almost 30 minutes before sunset time for another Crow Patrol along the Merrimack. After initial scans in all directions from the Incinerator Road ballfields, where small groups were building to the east and south, shifted location and vantage point to [...]
Winter Crow Roost: massive flight streams!
March 10, 2026 under clear skies, wind SW at 8MPH, temp 71F; sunset time 6:45PM Out on Crow Patrol along the south side of the Merrimack River just downriver from the Route 495 bridge, arriving shortly before sunset. At first the area was unexpectedly calm. Small groups of crows passed overhead at higher altitude, suggesting they were still [...]
Winter Crow Roost: numbers falling off!
March 9, 2026: clear skies, wind SW 8MPH, temp 63F; sunset time 6:43PM It took a while to locate the major flight lines of Crows this evening. Early on there were scattered groups passing overhead, but the dominant flight lines were not immediately obvious. After watching the skyline carefully for a period of time, the incoming streams finally began [...]
American Crow: A Narrative in Notes and Frames!
The Crow Patrol is very honored to share that several of our winter crow roost video clips have been incorporated into American Crow: A Narrative in Notes and Frames, a powerful new release by renowned composer and bandleader Maria Schneider! Link: https://youtu.be/LLkCeVL7oTo?si=SpnaDQwoBlOK41kc Maria reached out to us last year at the kind suggestion of Kevin McGowan of the Cornell [...]
Talk: Fish Crows at Admiral’s Cove, Jupiter, FL
Feb. 12, 2026: nearly 150 residents gathered in the Meridian Ballroom at Admiral's Cove in Jupiter, FL, for a presentation hosted by the External Affairs Committee titled “The Hidden Treasure of Admiral’s Cove: A Living Bird Sanctuary.” My heartfelt thanks go to AC residents and long-time dear friends, John and Carole Lee De Jong, for the gracious invitation to [...]
Winter Crow Roost: by the FX Wall Experiment Station
Feb. 5, 2026 under clear skies, calm winds, 16°F; sunset time at 5:03 PM Following a nearby Essex County Greenbelt Association talk, a short but rewarding Crow Patrol stop offered a quieter look at the roost as winter numbers begin their seasonal taper. Initial stops focused on the south end of the bridge and continued along the stretch bordering [...]
Talk: Essex County Greenbelt Association at Harbor Place
Feb. 5, 2026: Nearly 100 attendees gathered on Thursday evening at Harbor Place for More Than a Murder: The Winter Crow Roost, part of the Essex County Greenbelt Association Film & Lecture Series. The room was filled with a wonderful mix of longtime Greenbelt members, active birders, and curious community members, all eager to learn more about one of [...]
Winter Crow Roost: staging on ice!
Feb. 4, 2026 under clear skies, wind W 5mPH, temp 29F; sunset time 5:02PM Another memorable winter evening unfolded along the Merrimack River corridor as crows moved through familiar staging areas and built steadily toward an overnight roost. The patterns were classic, dynamic, and endlessly engaging. TheCrow Patrol began with a slow progression along Merrimack Street, continuing down [...]
Upcoming Talk: Essex County Greenbelt Association
Feb. 3, 2026: Tomorrow night, we have the great honor of speaking to a sold-out audience as part of the Essex County Greenbelt Association’s Film & Lecture Series at Harbor Place in Haverhill. We're very grateful for the invitation and very much looking forward to gathering with everyone for an evening focused on one of Essex County’s most remarkable [...]
Winter Crow Roost: move to Pemberton Park!
Jan. 31, 2026 under clear skies, northwest wind at 5 mph, 19°F; sunset at 4:56 PM. An evening of classic winter crow winter roosting behavior unfolded along the Merrimack River corridor, with multiple staging areas active and a dramatic build up toward an established overnight roost. It was a pleasure to welcome two groups of guests, with Abby [...]