The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25
A GREAT CROW R00sT.
Where the Birds Pass the Night Near
Arlington Cemetery.


Washington Letter in New York Tribune.
At Arlington Cemetery is one of the big
crow roosts in the United States. and one
Of the largest on the Atlantic coast. While
nearly everyone is accustomed TO look on
the cemetery as the resting place of the
Nations dead. visit paid at dusk will
prove interesting from other points of
view.
Every fall, beginning about the middle of
October, if one looks skyward about or
5 in the afternoon, scattered companies of
crows can be seen over Washington. They
are winging their way in a westerly direc-
ton. Later in the season these companies
increase in size until the last of November.
and throughout the winter vast hosts night
ly wing their way to a common center.
and before a majority of the people are
astr in the morning have dispersed in
every direction throughout the surrounding
country
To a great many their destination is a
mystery, as they generally flying until
long after dusk. To those who are ac-
customed to drive in the vicinity of Fort
Myer and Arlington the mystery is in a
measure explained, for here they may be
seen gathering on the hillsides from all
| quarters. Even with this part Of the prob
| lem at rest few aware of the circum-
stances attending the gathering and of the
| fact that Arlington Cemetery is the spot to
which this sable throng nightly resorts.
There are many curious and interesting
| facts still unrecorded concerning even the
commonest and best known birds, and,
while it is a fact well known to ornitholo-
! gists that in winter crows congregate at
night in vast numbers to roost it appears
not to be generally known as one might
| suppose. Within the last few years much
has been written concerning the crow. but
until recently little nothing has been
| published pertaining to the roostlng places
| of one of the commonest birds.
! A visit to the Arlington roost is extremely
interesting. Shortly after the break OF day
| the vast throng of birds beStirs itself. First
a loud clamor shows that the birds are
| awake; then, with shake or two, they
] launch forth in quest of breakfast. Start
| ing sngly i'm pairs by dozens and In fiocks
of hundreds and thousands. each wings it's
way to where the previous days meals
were secured or starts in search of new
air is foul, While the bodies of dead birds
can be seen here and there on the ground.
Among the branches, as well as on the
to participate in the morning flight These
| are readily approached and are easily
| caught with the hands
1
| crows through the winter months Every
! where they may be seen hunting for that
| which sustains life, but with the frozen con-
| dition of the ground this is frequently diff
| fcult to obtain. Along the river and
streams they may be seen walking on the
| ice in search of a possible dead fish or
| stray mussel, breaking through the Ice
| itself where Ii is not too thick to get to the
mud beneath, and in many places the sur
| face for considerable distance resembles
| land more than ice, from the quantities OF
mud thrown out. Here they secure, of
| course, considerable shellfish, but the sup
| ply is poor at best. At this season of the
| year there is scarcely a spot in the sur
| rounding region left unvisted by them, and
| the distance travelled in going to and from
| their feeding grounds is surprising. Crows
| which roost at Arlington have been seen
| as far as twenty miles away from the
roost.
Up to about o'clock in the afternoon the
birds are busy feeding, but about this time
an inclination to move is manifested by a
few, who fly away just over the treetops,
calling loudly. as If to induce the others
| who still tarry to follow. These, too, soon
depart and by o'clock or half past the
sky is filled with the host bound for the
| roost.
An idea can best be gained at this time
of the numbers that nightly resort to Ar
| lington, for, although it is obviously i'm
possible to attain anything like accuracy
as to the numbers. hundreds and thousands
pass overhead, until it seems as if every
crow in the United States was within sight.
If one goes TO the roost in the late after
noon and early evening and watches them
| come in he will see that at about o'clock
they begin TO arrive, singly and in fiocks,
tarrying at times at some neighboring feed
ing grounds, but soon seeking the roost.
Instead of repairing at once to their night S
resting place, they gather in multitudes on
the surrounding hills Coming, they
do, from all parts of the country, the num-
Der increases until the fields, the trees and
the pines are covered with them. Long aft
er the sun has set they continue to arrive.
The noise is deafening. AS darkness set
ties a few of the bolder ones enter the
roost: these are followed by small punches
of fifty or a hundred, and these by hun
dreds and thousands. Suddenly, with the
noise of a mighty hurricane, a vast host
arises and makes dive for the roost. This
Is closely followed by another and another,
and still another, until the numbers on
the hillsides begin TO show some signs of
thinning out. AS the darkness deepens
past the face, almost flying against one
and alighting on the first branch they
strike against. Ii is dark they can
scarcely sec. and 1t is amusing to watch
them Hopping about waiting for chance tC
throw a branch in their way. Every tree
and bush is packed with them, and still
they continue TO pour down. finding q
roosting place somewhere and adding
clamor to the deafening babel already ex-
| listing.
Finally all appear to have arrived and are
busy settling themselves for the night. II
one utters much syllable the en-
tire army, with renewed cries and in the
direst confusion, take flight and seek an
same performance of settling down
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