31 December 2023
Good fortune! Remaining night time, Saturday 30 December, our group counted 15,000 crows at their roost on Robinson Ext and Brackenridge Streets all through the Pittsburgh Christmas Hen Rely (CBC). It used to be a large problem in comparison to remaining 12 months after we may just stand in a single position and rely 20,000 flying via within the distance. This 12 months we needed to chase them for 2 hours, texting every different with updates, till the crows in any case picked a place. In darkness and rain we expect we had been not able to look any other 5,000 however we will’t rely what we will’t see. So the legitimate rely is 15,000.
Carol Steytler, Sue Faust and I did a dry run on Friday night time. That night time the western movement flew over the Allegheny River to degree at Cliff Side road ahead of transferring on. My transient video presentations how unimaginable it’s to rely them ahead of they settle.
That night time we adopted about part the flock to Wylie Road close to Lawson, however the place did the remainder of them pass? Thankfully it used to be only a dry run ahead of Rely Day.
On Saturday night time Claire Staples joined us for the CBC and we break up as much as to find the crows. Sue waited for them on Arcena Side road however now not a unmarried crow got here to the bluff above Bigelow. Carol discovered them staging close to Wylie and Herron but if Claire and I stuck up lets inform the crows had been going to go away; there aren’t any streetlights on that patch of woods.
Via 5:30pm the crows had picked a roost and we amassed close to Vera Side road to observe them swirl overhead within the rain. We counted them in bushes and at the Sports activities Dome however may just now not see what number of had been on within sight roofs and different puts out of sight, so the legitimate rely is 15,000. Possibly subsequent 12 months we’ll rely they all.
Thanks to the intrepid group — Carol Steytler, Sue Faust and Claire Staples — who braved rain, chilly, and darkness to rely the crows. We had been up for the problem and we discovered virtually they all. And due to my readers on your pointers and sightings. We’re completed now till subsequent 12 months. 🙂
And we’ve discovered a treasured lesson: If you wish to rely crows, don’t look forward to finding them in the similar position and even flying the similar direction each night time.
(photograph and video via Kate St. John)