February 24, 1983 - Stalking Crows in the SnowFebruary 24, 1983 The *Uf f Olk Timed Page 13
Stalking Crows in the Snow
By PAULSTOUTENBURGH
Some time ago I received an inquiry
from Cornell University's Ornithology
Laboratory asking my help in a crow
survey. I'd never heard of such a thing, but
after all, coming from such a prestigious
organization as that, I filled out the form
and sent it back. In no time I received a set
of instructions complete with maps,
tallying forms and all. Now I'd made the
commitment, so a date went on my
calendar and I thought no more about it
until the month of February flipped over
and reminded me to get busy. The day I
decided on was the day of the big snow of
'83.
The plan was to get out in the afternoon
and try to locate the various flight patterns
of crows homing in on their evening roost.
Crows during the winter congregate in
these roosts that can number from a few
hundred to thousands upon thousands.
Years ago, when we had crows here on
the North Fork, it was a common sight in
the late winter afternoons to see crows
bee - lining it toward home. Some of the
flight paths came across the bay from the
southside, but most of them were in an
easterly or westerly direction. The biggest
roost I can remember was north of
Jamesport. Here, back in the 50's, was the
night rendezvous of all the crows on the
North Fork -- and what a roost it was!
Depending on the weather, you could
count on some spectacular flying by those
black marauders. If it was a quiet day with
little or no wind, the crows would come in
high, some only a speck in the sky. But
when they neared Jamesport, they'd
funnel out of the blue like crazy dive
bombers. Some would swoop in. Others
would butterfly down in more or less of a
ballet of eccentric flight.
Often they'd stop at a station some miles
from the roost; sort of an evening stop at
the pub where they'd talk over the day's
activities. This would be a noisy spot, with
a bit of short flying and bickering. If it was
windy and blowing up a storm, the crows
would come in earlier, flying like an arrow
on target, low over the winter stubble.
Some were only a few feet off the ground,
but all pumped their jet black wings in a
fast and deliberate flight. I remember
watching that driving flight during a
windy snowstorm. I'd hid in the lee of a
hedgerow that was in line with their roost.
On they'd come, disregarding their usual
alertness. Some would fly within six feet of
me -- so close I could see their black beady
eyes.
Jamesport Roost Broken Up
As time went on, the Jamesport roost
was broken up, some say by gunners,
others say just by civilization moving too
close. The next place I remember seeing
them was in the beachwood grove on the
North Road between Mattituck and
Cutchogue. Here they reorganized, not as
strong, but still in good numbers. Perhaps
now only a thousand birds.
It was during this period I was working
in Riverhead and came home along the
North Road, where I'd often see them
milling about in the fields or in the trees
before settling down. This period of
ffoQ�� ova
r�aa�pa
settling down doesn't come quickly -- no,
indeed. There's much squabbling and
walking about before they settle in.
Once when I was coming back late, it
was snowing and there was a fair wind and
I thought it would be quite an experience to
go into the roost at night. I parked the
pickup in the woods on the little dirt road
that led north.
In the woods, it was quiet, but overhead
the wind howled. As I walked along the
muffled snow, I looked up hoping to see
crows. Up the road I went until I started to
hear their low, muffled calls. It was almost
dark by now and all the crows had bedded
down.
Now the crows heard me and started to
stir. It was quite an experience. Crows
talking above in the howling wind and
snow while I walked below almost on
tiptoes hoping not to disturb them. As I
moved toward the colony, they rose before
me, always keeping just out of sight, as
they settled back down in the treetops.
Stopping and looking up with the wet
snow falling on my face I felt uneasy. I was
an intruder into a great ritual that had
gone on since time had started for these
big, black birds.
Turning, I walked back to the pickup
thinking how their black patent leather
feet would be clinging to a branch all night
long, swaying in the wind, head tucked low
to their body. They'd hold until dawn broke
and then wake from their frozen sleep to
fly off singly or in groups for another day's
PART TIME JOBS.
$2AOO BONUS AVAILABLE.
Think you c:m nx", thr challenge of hang a harrumr
Cannon C—man. ( bmh:u Engnuvr or Intammn :m' The Anne
R-1.11 I- h:u:, ho nu.. f K" Frig for qualified r-'riv "I", roll"
u, th-c :uu3 „thcr,kiu.
1'i n get a wgulur.., la ry more than $ 2.2A1 vhily endry
training and urrcr J1 'OJ lor.crvmg m your Ioc4 un i a avAcnd
a month plu nco ,arrk.., qcm
lindout,v [lit h III our.kill—r,, rth in extra $2,000If
wu rc at leaa 17, [1 the number baba Or.uq• b,.
ARMY RESERVE.
BEALLYOU CAN BE.
RIVERHEAD:
4 West Main St.
727 -4830
The Development Office
of
Little Flower Children's Services of New York
presents
SEEDS FOR HOPE
on Sunday Radio
A religious appeal for Adoption and Foster Parents
by Father John Fagan
WLIM in Patchogue
WGLI in Babylon
WRIV in Riverhead
WLIR in Garden City
WSBH in Southampton
WLNG in Sag Harbor
(1580 AM) at 8:30 A.M.
(1290 AM) at 7:45 A.M.
(1390 AM) at 9:00 A.M.
( 92.7 FM) at 6:45 A.M.
( 95.3 FM) at 7:00 A.M.
( 92.1 FM) at 9:45 P.M.
BEGINNING OF BIG SNOW Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
foraging along our bays and fields. Then
again late in the afternoon they'd head
back. This would be done until nesting
time, when the inevitable urge to pair off
and raise their young will dominate their
life.
Second Roost Raided
This roost was raided and they had to
move again. They moved to a piece of
woods on the south side of the road off
Cox's Lane in Cutchogue. Years passed
between these moves; the flock had
diminished to just a few hundred crows.
Yet they still followed the characteristic
homing instincts each day. That roost was
active until the 70's, and then it, too,
disappeared.
Today I can find no trace of crows on the
north shore, but that doesn't mean there
are none. Should someone know of where
they are, I would appreciate knowing it.
The only ones I know of are the ones east of
Three Mile Harbor on the south side, one in
Middle Island and the biggest of all up in
Stony Brook, but they are out of my
territory and I'll leave those to someone
else to count.
Crows disappeared from our landscape
some years ago, but today there seem to
be more and more about. Perhaps they are
coming back. I believe I had a nest of
crows in my woods this year, for the
family was continually about in the trees
during the summer. Crows like high
nesting sites. It's not too big a nest, but
somehow it evades most people who look
for it. The nest is made of sticks, not too
big, which makes it difficult to find. This
coupled with the fact that during nesting
time Mr. and Mrs. Crow become extra
quiet and can sneak in and out of the
nesting sight without anyone noticing
them, means crows are about us though
most are not aware of it. Of course, this is
the only time they're quiet, for crows do
like to talk.
The crows in New York State have gone
way down in numbers; thus the reason for
the Cornell study. At one time there was an
open season on crows and they could be
shot at any time.
Crows, like so many things that were one
time plentiful and we took for granted, are
having a tough time making it in our
world. With a little understanding and
hope from all, they seem to be coming
back, but I'm afraid like the buffalo and
others, never in the numbers they were
years ago. There'll always be that person
who'll say, "What good is a crow ?" or
"What good is that animal or those
insects ?" To me there are many, many
answers, but to that person I'd say, "They
are an indicator. When they start to
disappear, it's a sign that something is
wrong in our natural system and we'd
better find out what it is and correct it."
INTRODUCING
DIGITAL"S
PERSONAL
COMP-UTERS9
Date: March 5
Time: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.
Place: CCS
Seminar Room*
19200640 AM
--low 000=00017—
}�
This is your chance to see Digital's Personal Unnputers
in action. At
(U Custom Computer Specialists, Inc.
208 Roanoke Avenue
Riverhead, New York 11901
516- 369 -2199
special Open House, you'll see how
the Professional 300 Series and AUTHORIZED
Rainbow 100 personal computers WORD,
fit into your business. And you'll DEALER
get to see for yourself why experts
have been giving rave reviews for
Digital's new personal computers.
*Call for Schedule of free half -hour seminars.
\_