Winter Crow Roost: staging at Barker’s Farm!
Conditions: clear skies, wind S at 7MPH, temp at 49F; sunset time 6:53PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop at Barker's Farm in North Andover. Crows observed mulling around and foraging in open farm fields about 1.75 miles from the overnight roost. Next stop along Incinerator Road with views towards the airport and downriver, with many Crows going [...]
Winter Crow Roost: swarm over Rt. 495!
Conditions: mostly clear skies, wind NW 22MPH, gusts 36MPH, temp at 32F, wind chill 19F; sunset time 6:50PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop along Incinerator Road and the baseball field with crows seen in staging mode with high winds about 13 minutes before sunset time. Next stop along south side of Merrimack River with views up and [...]
Winter Crow Roost: before dawn!
Conditions: overcast skies, wind S 6MPH, temp at 36F: sunrise time 6:03PM Out on dawn Crow Patrol with Crows waking up typically about 90 minutes before sunrise time. The vocalizations start with a murmur and build up to very loud levels before dispersal time. The action around the roost, from the south side of the Merrimack River was cranked [...]
Winter Crow Roost: all calm after dark!
Dazzling flight action before entering roost! Conditions: clear skies, wind SE 7MPH, 51F; sunset time 5:45PM Out on Crow Patrol along south side of Merrimack River with Crows seen in flight moving downriver and towards extended airport area. It became all quiet just before and after 6PM until the first scouting squadrons started to arrive at 6:03PM. [...]
Winter Crow Roost: flight frenzy!!
Conditions: mostly clear skies, wind W at 8MPH, temp at 31F, sunset time 5:40PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop along Incinerator Road. Crows were seen streaming in, romping around in playful flight, and perching in trees on both sides of the Merrimack River. Many more Crows were seen up on the flat level ground at west end [...]
Winter Crow Roost: loud vocalizations!
Conditions: clear skies, wind W 20MPH, gusts 36MPH, temp at 25F, wind chill 11F; sunset time 5:35PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop again along Incinerator Road and baseball fields. Crows seen staging in trees along Marston Street between Dunkin and Commonwealth Motors, and also on the ground on north side of the Essex County Pre-Release Center. Moved [...]
Winter Crow Roost: massive flight swirls!!
Conditions: mostly clear skies, wind W at 15MPH with gusts to 32MPH, temp at 41F; sunset time 5:34PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop along Incinerator Road by the Essex County Pre-Release Center with Crows perched in trees all around the extended area with active, and at time, intense vocalizations. Many Crows mulling around on the ground at [...]
Winter Crow Roost: bonfire on the Merrimack?
Conditions: clear skies, wind W at 6MPH, temp at 29F; sunset time 5:24PM Out on Crow Patrol after being away for a week. The Crows are still roosting in the same area on the east side of the Rt. 495 Bridge in Lawrence. Upon arrival before sunset time, a steady flight stream of Crows were observed coming in from [...]
Winter Crow Roost: arriving later!
Conditions: heavy overcast with light rain, wind SW at 6MPH, temp at 41F; sunset time 5:27PM Out on Crow Patrol with first stop atop baseball field on Incinerator Road with Crows staging in trees on both sides of Merrimack River, mostly downriver, and in trees along Sutton Street in North Andover. As in past years, the Crows are staging [...]
Winter Crow Roost: yes, two roosts!!!
Conditions: clear skies, wind NW 8MPH, temp at 26F; sunset time 5:11PM Out on Crow Patrol with initial stops looking at staging areas east of the Rt. 495 Bridge. Crows seen staging in trees along both sides of the Merrimack River for more than 1.5 miles downriver. By 10 minutes after sunset time, the Crows were just starting to [...]