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October 01, 1961 - The Crow�._ - Now Focus on Nature by Paul Stoutenburgh To me, the crow we find throughout America is a true symbol of our American cour- age; a symbol that still de- fies all those who would try to destroy it. Probably no member of nature's society has had to stand up against such continuous attempts at extermination. Some of the first laws passed in New York State had to do with a bounty on crows, and from that time on there has been no peace for Jim Crow. Perhaps in olden days there was some justice for persecuting the crow for at that time crops came hard and there was sel- dom a surplus. When Mr Crow invaded the corn field real hurt was felt by the farmer. Today, with our land of plenty, his rob- bing of corn fields and orchards continues but the effect is not 'felt so greatly. Perhaps this led to the philoso- phy that was passed on to me many years ago by an old pro- fessor of mine when he said, "The only way to fight the crows is to plant enough for them as well as yourself ". Perhaps this is the solution, but at any rate -the presence of Mr Crow still gives one the ex- cuse to take down the old shot gun and try his luck. And luck it has to be if you are ever going to get close enough to get a shot at one. Even the so- called expert with his call and crow -hunt- ing equipment really works with his call and crow -hunt- ing equipment really works for his shots of the black marauder. All crows follow the proverb, "united we stand, divided we fall ", and it is probably to this trait they owe their continual ex- istence. It is too bad the. United Nations, in these troubled times, does not take heed to their suc- cess by following such a creed, for surely the crow has prospered despite all attempts to stop it. It has been said that there are more crows now than when the Pilgrims landed many years ago. Another unique togetherness trait that crows have is their roosting together at night. For you who have not witnessed this may I suggest you find a roost to observe this spectacle. It can be sort of a game played from ` your car. On short winter days about 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon, the crows start to congregate in the fields and then small groups start flying toward the roost. By following them, you will eventually be led to their night spot. What with open fields and our narrow island, this tracking be- comes a relatively simple part of the game. Many's the time I've watched in amazement the flight of thousands of crows. On wild, windy days they keep close to the ground, hedge hop- ping from one hedge row to an- ther, while on a quiet day you will find them almost out of sight high in the air funneling _down as they approach the roost. I'm sure there are some among you who would like to have been with -ne when on a snowy, windy night some years ago when I visited a crow roost. To me it was an experience I'll never forget. Ti,e trees were swaying madly above as the snow drifted about my feet. Yet in the ceriter of the woods, the howling wind was subdued by the great oaks and a semi -quietness permeated. Off in the distance the wind could be heard and as I walk- ed along under thousands of crows I could bear the dis- turbed chatter as they movetd ahead of me through the snow storm. What fears must have tormented them ... It's mo.- meats such as these that we all experience and like a great piece of music or a well - written book, we always cherish. A description of the crow surely seems unnecessary but some clar- ification should be brought in here for I've heard some say they thought the large purple grackle was a small crow. Surely he is not. The closest similarity to a crow that I can suggest is the Fish Crow. This completely different spec- ies Is often heard along the shores of Long Island. I say heard, for his hoarse "caw" is the best id- entification and unless you have Mr Common's call to compare with, you will find it difficult to identify him. True, he is smaller but the real identification, as I mentioned, is his call and not his size. Another member of this hand of raiders is; the northern bandit, the haven. .. probably more well known through the poem entit- led The Raven. Every school child knows this but few have . ever seen a real one. I was fortunate last summer when we were camping in North- ern Canada to see a few of them. They soar more like a hawk and are much larger than our crow. The Raven also differs from the crow and fish crow in that it builds its nest on a cliff while the latter prefer the tops of high trees. Crows are great acrobats and their maneuvers when playing tag with some hawk or owl are some- thing to marvel at. How they rally round when one of these misfortunate birds stray into their territory. They shout it from the highest tree top so all can hear and like the minutemen of p1d, they muster their troops to drive away the invader. There's probably good reason for this for larger owls rob the crow roosts at night and so it seems fitting for Mr Crow to give anyone who resemble this kidnapper a hard time. To many, the call of the crow stirs their quest for revenge and so with gun in hand they set out to destroy him. Their mission is to rid the world of these grain and orchard robbers and to rid the countryside of black beggars who steal young chicks and birds. To others there is some- thing more. Something that far outshines the bad. Per- haps James Russell Lowell expressed it best when he said, "Yet there are few things more melodious than the call of the crow on a clear winter morning as it drops to you fikered through five htmdred fathoms of crisp bite air." To me, this is the crow I know - "Mackie." He is the comical fel- low that has been our pet for the past six months; he is the one who has delighted our children, our friends and of course - me. Please send all Field Observa- tions and Comments to Paul Stoutenburgh R D No 1, Box 105, Bay Avenue, Cutchogue, N Y. FIELD OBSERVATIONS: L R Ernest reports ; September 23 at Southampton 1 Coopers Hawk 2 Wilson Snipe 4 Palm Warblers 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Canada Warbler Small flock of Cedar Waxwings September 26 at North Sea 1 Swamp Sparrow I Yellow - billed Cuckoo Dennis Puleston, Jennifer Pules. ton and Henry Halama report: September 23 Peregrine Falcon - Mecox Bay Least Bittern - Sagaponack Pond Gull - billed Tern - Shinnecock In- let Western Kingbird - Tiana Beach, Quogue. 2 White- rumped Sandpipers - Sag - aponack Pond Sept nber 25 Pidgeon Hawk - Brookhaven?