Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-03-26
4 BIG CROW R00ST.
V.fFRt T.IE.EIRDS MAKE.THEIH
EDNE IN THE WiNiEt:
They Leave in the Morning For
Feeding Ground and Return at
N,.h,. Making ne Hills Black
With Taeir Numbers

i-Al Niu.tI Arlington teltt-
= terry becomes one o. the most
~ ruted crow ruosts IN the United
States, and one of the largest on
the Atlantic coast, and while nearly all
are accustomed - look At it from one
point ot view-thr resting place o. the
nation dead: visit paid at dusk, and
from an entirely different poin: of view,
will, trust, prove interesting to some.
Within the past few ycaxs much has
been written concerning this notorious
cornpuller; bnt until recently little or
nothing has appeared pertaining to the
roostny place Of one of our comnonest
birds. Ii has been my pleasure to visit
two rookeries and to observe closely the
biri composing it, both at the roost,
where they consre 5ate a. night to seek
rest and protection IN \Yach others com.
pany, and many miles !, way from it, and
under nearly all circf finstances. The
first Of these is situated about 40 miles
east of Syracuse, n. Y, in a locality
known as "Tanaracl1 swamp" This
swamp, once extensive, has been cut
down to a naH strip, not exceeding
SIX hundred yards in width By one and
half miles long, henmed in on the
north and solth by hills, and has be-
cone what is known as dry swamp,
compo ed Of naples, pines, beech, birch,
tanaracS and oaks. Midway in this strip
IS sttetch Of young Pines, 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. Arin ,to1 is too
we'll known to require any description.
4 visit to these roosts in the daytime
as 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
loud clamor betokcns that the birds are
awake; then, with a shake or two, they
launch forth in quest Of the mornings
breakfast
Leaving singly, in pairs, by dozehs and
in tiocAs Of hundreds a1d thousands, each
gro lp wings its way to where the pre-
vious day 5 meals were secured or starts
in search of new feeding grounds.
A drive through the surrounding
country will now give glimpse OF their
daily life throuy yhout the winter. Any
where and every where they may be seen
III search OF that which suStlins life, but
with the usual frozen condition Of the
ground this Is a rule IS difficult to OBJ
| tan. Along t4e river and streams they
| may pe SEN tlKiag on the ice IN search
! OF possible dead fish 0; Il stray mussel,
| BREAKING throu sh the frozen structure
| itself where not too thick IN order i get
| at the soft. un.rozen mud beneath, aad
- ~ w s''-'--
| era Die Area resembles the !inl III ore than
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