The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24
WHERE THE CROWS RoOsT.
Scenes at G Rookery-Habits of the Sable-cOated
BrdS-Nght Time.
scientific Americana

The first of these two roolleries is situated
about two miles east of Syracuse n. Y, in a
woods known as Tamarack Swamp" and "
ing between the Central and West Shore tracks.
The second is situated in Arlington Cemetery
at Washington. Both rookeres are nearly equal
in size, the one at Syracuse covering about 10
acres and that at Arlington from 10 to II.
A visit to these roOsts in the daytime is inter-
esting in the extreme, while another paid at
dusk when the birds are coming in is even more
so. Shortly after daybreaS the vast throng of
black bestirs itself; first loud clamOr be-
tokens that the birds are awake; then with
shake or two they lanch forth in quest of the
mornings breakfast. Leaving singly in pairs,
by dozens, and in focks 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 a sight indeed. On every hand the trees
anu ground beneath are literally covered with
the excrcta of the Birds having much the ap
pearance of having been plentifully despatched
with whitewash. The air is foul with the
odor mingled with that of the putrefying bodies
Of the dead ones that here and there dot the
snow, while among the branches as well as on
the ground are numbers of individuals too weak,
emanciated, orotherwise 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
" =
during Winter. Anywhere 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 a rule,
is difficult TO obtain. Up to about 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 WandeTingS, it is in order to visit
the rOost again at nightfall and watch them
come in. At the hour above mentioned they
began to arrive either singly or in fOcks, larry
ing at times at some near-at-hand feeding
grounds but soon seeking the vicinity Of the
ToOst Strangely enough, instead Of repairing
at once to their nights resting place, they
gather in immense multitudes on the surround
| ing 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 had set they
/ continued to arrive. The noise is deafening
/ and when at times they rise and circle about
/ IN the air IL seems as if the heavens themselves
/ were about to fall. As darkness begins to set
/ tie, first a few of the holder ones enter the
| rOost. These are followed by small punches of
/ 80 or So and these in turn by other companies
/ interspersed with stragglers. Suddenly, with
a noise as of a hurricane, a vast host arises
and makes dive for the roost. These are
/ Closely IUiiOHCu Dy duOIlE!J anu StIll duOLiGI,
! until finally the numbers on the hiilsides begin
to show some signs Of thinning out
As the darkness deepens they come in any
way; down they come peI nell, brushing past
the face almost flying against one, alighting
on the first branch they strike against (for
they are now almost unable to see, and it is
amusing to sec hundreds Topping about wait
ing for luck to throw branch in their way
often within arms reach. Every tree and
branch seems packed with them, and still they
continue to pour down, finding a rOosting
place somewhere, and adding clamor to the
dealening babel already existing Finally all
appear to have arrived and are busy settling
Themselves for the night. Utter now but Sc
much as a syllable and the entire army with
renewed cries, and in the direst confusion, take
wing and seek another part Of the woods, only
to renew the performance should the operation
be repeated. / have never as yet remained in
( a roost long enough to ascertain whether or no
the birds became absolutely quiet.