18 December 2023
For the previous a number of years Claire Staples and I’ve counted crows for the Pittsburgh Christmas Chook Rely (CBC). In a very good 12 months we rely 20,000. In a nasty 12 months, 220. Gorgeous, isn’t it. The distinction just isn’t within the precise variety of crows. It’s whether or not we are able to discover them.
Please assist. Let me know the place you see crows in a single day or after sundown, particularly subsequent week (after Christmas)!
You’d assume that 20,000 crows can be exhausting to overlook however in late December they get difficult. Simply earlier than the CBC the crows change their roost a number of instances or they break up the roost and, out of the blue, we are able to’t discover half of them.
A number of of you responded to Why Do 1000’s of Crows Roost in City? with dates and areas. Your stories helped me determine the crows moved on 11 December.
- Dec 10: Up till Dec 11 Tom noticed them roosting close to the VA Hospital in Oakland.
- Dec 11: Jeff Cieslak noticed 1000s flying over the North Aspect parallel to Allegheny River, heading upstream.
- Dec 12: I counted 4,000 flying west-southwest over Schenley Park’s golf course at nightfall. The place have been they going?
- Dec 13: Sue Faust reported them hanging out on the North Aspect and flying over the Strip District at nightfall.
- Dec 16: Carol Steytler counted as many as 10,000 roosting upstream of the sixteenth Road Bridge throughout from Heinz Lofts (throughout the river?).
Carol’s 16 December sighting matches a roost they used again in February 2021 (picture above) however they didn’t keep there lengthy and I concern they gained’t keep now. And that is solely half of them.
The place will the crows be 12 days from now?
I do know I’m going to overlook their subsequent transfer as a result of I’ll be out of city December 21-28. Your assist is actually essential. Please let me know the place you see crows in a single day or after sundown. Let me know the place you see a massive flock swirling. Claire & I additionally have to discover a good vantage level for counting them.
Fingers crossed that we’ll efficiently rely the crows on Saturday 30 December.
