Staging and roosting

March 18, 2025: under clear skies, wind E 3MPH, 49F; sunset time 6:54PM

Out on Crow Patrol with initial stops along Merrimack Street with Crows flying in at sunset time just east of the Casey Bridge. Large groupings were seen along roof edges, utility wires and on the ground at the west end of the former B&D Warehousing building. Image below at 12 minutes post sunset time.

Incoming flight streams continued against a stunning pastel colored sky to the west with lots of active vocalizing on the way in! Image at 14 minutes post sunset.

Numerous flight bursts unfolded with larger ones as the passing southbound train horns were blasting away while leaving the Lawrence MBTA commuter rail station and heading to Boston. Image at 15 minutes post sunset time.

The Crows were staging in large numbers on rooftop of the former B&D warehouse building along Merrimack Street. As we carefully deploy aerial imaging tools with high powered 7X zoom cameras, and established buffer zones, we are able to realize new insights on staging movement patterns and enhance more accurate counting techniques; a real game changer. Image below at 20 minutes post sunset time.

A bit later, numbers built up within the National Grid substation, adjacent to the Merrimack River, on rooftops, utility wires and on the ground. Minutes later, the Crows converged into the long spread of treetops along the Merrimack River between the National Grid substation down close to the Casey Bridge. They will undoubtedly shift further and finally become concentrated in the trees by the New Balance building. Image below shows Crows on a red brick building rooftop and roof edges within the substation. Another amazing night out on Crow Patrol!

For the 2024 Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for the Andover Circle (MAAN), the separate Crow Count was 12,550 total Crows, including American Crows and Fish Crows. In 2023, the CBC Andover Circle Crow Count was 11,600. Many thanks to Donna Cooper who coordinates and compiles the CBC Andover Circle each year! Craig serves as the designated sector leader for the roost count.

The counts and methods meticulously developed by the Crow Patrol for the Lawrence roost were reviewed and approved in January 2021. This took place after a full review of all field notes and images, followed by group discussion with Wayne Petersen, the New England Regional Editor for the CBC, full support from Geoff  LeBaron, the National Director of the CBC, and Donna Cooper as the local CBC Count Circle compiler. After this comprehensive review process, the final count for American Crows for the 2020 CBC was set at 15,200. This final count reflected the detailed field reports and imaging provided by members of the Crow Patrol. This count number was also in total alignment with a long list of experienced local birders who have made prior counting visits to this winter roost in Lawrence, MA!

As a result of substantial input from Geoff LeBaron, the National CBC Director, we are now using enhanced methods for counting the large number of Crows while streaming, staging, and settling into the roost. For all counts, we utilize multiple direct block counts of the Crows in flight and later while the Crows are perched in trees, always while standing and walking around outside (not sitting in a car after dark) around the roost. For all roost images, we use a modified open source counting software program, to carefully document and cross check our count numbers. This comprehensive approach significantly increases the reliability and accuracy of our carefully documented results. Please refer to our newly published Winter Crow Roost counting guide PDF on the main page.

For our still images, the Canon R6 mirrorless cameras excels in low-light photography due to its 24 MP sensor with fewer and larger pixels, allowing for better light collection and signal-to-noise ratio. The R6 II offers high dynamic range for detail retention, low digital noise even at high ISOs (up to 102,400), effective image stabilization for sharper images, and advanced image processing to minimize noise in dark areas.

The Canon mirrorless cameras with the RF 50mm f/1.2 lens and the RF 28-70mm F2 lens excel in low-light conditions, blending versatile focal lengths with an ultra-wide aperture. Both focal lengths work extremely well in very low light conditions because the f/1.2  and f2 aperture settings ensure exceptional performance in low light conditions, offering stunning clear, and aesthetically pleasing images, making them ideal for the challenging very low light conditions around any overnight winter crow roost.

Remember to check out the latest Crow Patrol Podcast with John Macone (Merrimack River Watershed Council): wintercrowroost.com/podcast/

Photo gear used for most outings:

Canon EOS 80D with Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS 

Canon EOS 80D with Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Infrared)     

Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless with Canon RF 28-70 f/2 L IS USM 

Canon EOS R6 II Mirrorless with Canon RF 50 f/1.2 L USM 

Sony AX700 4K HDR Camcorder

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