Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-11
A BIG CROW R00ST.
WHERE THE BIRDS MAKETHEIR
HOME IN THE WINTER.
They Leave i'm the Morning For
Feeding Grounds and Return ut
Night, Making the Hills Black
With Their Numbers.

- uOtCu CIOM IOOsIS III tne Onlteu
States, and one of the largest on
the Atlantic coast, and while nearly all
are accustomed to look at it from one
point of view-the resting place Of the
nations dead-a visit paid at dusk, and
from an entirely different point of view,
will, l trust, prove interesting to some.
Within the past few years much has
been written concerning this notorious
cOrnpuller; but until recently little or
nothing has appeared pertaining to the
roosting place of one of our commone,t
birds. 1t has been my pleasure to visit
two rookcrics and to observe closely the
birds composing it, both at the roost,
where they congre gate at night to seek
rest and protection in each others COM
paDy, and many miles away from it, and
under nearly all circumstances. The
first of these is situated about two miles
east of Syracuse, n. Y, in a locality
known as "Tamarack swamp" This
swamp, once extensive, has been cut
down to narrow strip, not exceeding
six hundred yards in width By one and
half miles long, henmed in on the
north and south by hills, and has be-
come what is known as n dry swamp,
composed Of naples, pines, beech, birch,
tamarack and oaks. Midway in this strip
is stretch of young rines, averaging
twelve feet in height, and this spot, in
preference to the more densely wooded
portion, has been chosen as the winter
home of the crows. Ariin ytoa is too
well known to require any description.
A visit to these roosts in the daytime
is extremely interesting, but one paid at
dusk, when the birds are coming in, is
not only interesting, but exciting.
Shortly after the first break of day the
vast throng Of black bestirs itself. FIRST
q loud clamor betokcns that the birds are
awake; then, with shake or two, they
launch forth in quest Of the mornings
breakfast.
Leaving singly, in pair, by dozens and
in focks Of hundreds aud thousands, each
gro Up wings its way to where the pre-
vious days meals were secure I Or stlrts
in search of new fee ling groInd..
A drive through the surrounding
country will now give a glimpse Of their
daily life throughout the winter Any
where and everywhere they may be seen
in search Of that which sustains life. but
with the usual frozen condition Of the
ground this as a rule is difficult to Oh
tain. Along the river and streams they
may be seen walking on the ice in search
of possible dead fsh OF stray mus.el,
breaking through the frozen structure
itself where not too thick in order to get
at the soft, unirozen mud beneath, ald
in many places the surface for consid-
erable area resembles the land more than
the ice, from the quantities Of this mate
rial thrown out. Here they of course
secure considerable vegetable matter,
mingled with an occasional shell fish,
but the supply is poor at best aud they
generally have a hard scIapc Of it through
the winter.
Up to about o'clock the birds are
busy feeding, and the passer-by 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 their fellows. About this
time an inclination to move is manifested
by few, who fly aaay just over the tree
tops calling loudly, as if to induce the
rest who still tarry to follow. These too
soon depart and by 4 CLOCK or half-past
the sky is file with the host en- route
for the rendezvous.
An idea can best be gained now of the
countless numbers that nightly resort to
this place, for although it is obviously
impossible to attain anything like ac-
curlcy as to the numbers, we know that
at any given station hundreds and thou.
sands pass over our heads, until it seems
as if every crow in the country was pass
ing before our eyes; but station in an
exactly opposite direction the next day
will reveal a like number, and another
the next day the same, until every point
of the compass has been covered. As
they return every night in the same direc-
tion it will Of course be evident that the
same flock are not observed twice and
what an enormous throng must be
gathered together at the rookery.
Having now traced our birds through
their daily wanderings it is in order to
visit the roost at nightfal and wa.ch
them come in. We must be there be-
fore dusk, and have but to take our stand
in the center of the place, close beside
some tree, in order to avoid observation.
At about 5 o'clock they began to arrive,
singly and in docks, tarrying at times at
some neighboring feeding groInd, but
some 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 parts of the country, the
number increases until the fields, the trees
and the pines are covered with them.