Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-08-21
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WHERE CROWS BOOST.
Scenes at the Rookeries Where the Sable
Golnred Eirhs Congregate.

Scenes at the Rookeries Where the Sable
Coiored birds Congregate.
The first of these two rookeries is
situated about two miles east Of SYRIA
cuse, n. Y, in woods known as
"Tamarack swamp" and lying be-
tween the Central and West Shore
tracks. The second is situated in Ar
lington Cemetery at Washington, Both
rookeries are nearly equal in size, the
one at Syracuse covering about fifteen
acres and that at Arlington from ten
to twelve,
A visit to these roosts in the day
time is interesting in the extreme.
while another paid at dusk when the
birds are coming in is even more so.
Shortly after day the vast throng
of black bestirs itself; first loud
olamor betokens that the birds are
awake; then with shake or two they
launch forth In quest of the mornings
breakfast Leaving singly, in pairs,
by dozens and in flocks of hundreds.
each group wings its way to where the
previous days meals were secured, or
starts in search of new feeding
grounds. After they are gone the
roost is sight indeed. On every
hand the trees and ground beneath are
literally covered with the exereta of
the birds, having much the appearance
of having been plentifully despatched
with whitewash. The air is foul with
tl,., oil ,,t,,s,l.l ,,,tth th,g q ha
trefying bodies of the dead ones that
here and there dot the snow, while
among the branches AS we'll as on the
ground are numbers of individuals too
weak. emaciated or otherwise disabled
to participate in the flight. These are
readily approached, and are often to
be caught in the hands.
A drive through the surrounding
country will now give glimpse of
their daily life during winter. Any
where and everywhere they may be
seen, each in search of that which
alone will sustain life. but with the
usual frozen condition of the ground
this, as rule. is difficult To obtain. Up
To about three O'Clock the birds are
busy feeding, and the average person
would hardly believe that within an
hour or even less these same birds will
be miles away. and in company with
tens of thousands of the same species.
Having traced them through their daily
wanderings, ii is in order to visit the
roost again atnightfall and watch them
come in. At the hour above mentioned
they began to arrive either singly or in
tiocks, tarrying at times at some near
at-hand feeding grounds, but soon
seeking the vicinity of the roost.
Strangely enough. instead of repairing
at once to their nights resting place,
they gather in immense multitudes on
the surrounding hills; coming as they
do from all quarters of the country,
the numbers Increase until the fields,
the trees, and the fences are covered
with them. Long after the sun has set
they continue 10 arrive. The noise is
deafening, and when at times they
rise and circle about in the
air it seems az if the heavens them.
selves We're about TO fall A:
darkness begins to settle. first few OF
the bolder ones enter the roost These
are followed by small punches Of 6fty
or 50. and these in turn by other com
penioas interspersed with stragglers
Suddenly, with q noise "a of hurri
cane. vast host srises and makes :
dive for the roost. These are elosel,
followed by another, and still another
until finally the number on the hillside
begin to show some sign of thinnin;
out
As the darkness deepens they com,
In any way; down they come pell nell