New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-04
A GREAT CROW RoosT.
Where the Birds Pass the Night Near
Arlington Cemetery.

Washington. Jar. tSpeciall-At Arlington -.
etery is of the big crow roosts IN ths 49,
States and of the largest on the =.
Coast While nearly every one is accustomed -
look on the cemetery as the resting place OF the
nations dead, visit paid at dusk VIII prove ii'e'
estng from other points of view
Every fall. beginning about the middle OF octo-
her, If one looks skyward about or in the after
noon scattered companies of crows can be seen
over Washington. They are winging their way III
westerly direction. Later In the season the7e
companies increase i'm size until the last OF NoveH'
Der. and throughout the winter vast hosts nish'iy
wing their way to common centre, and oeiore
a majority of the people are astir in the morning
have dispersed in every direction throughout the
surrounding country.
To great many their destination is a mystery
they generally flying until long after dusk
To those who are accustomed to drive in the VI
cinty of Fort Nyer and Arlington the mystery ~
in a measure explained. for here they may be seen
gathering the hillsides from all quarters Even
with this part of the problem at rest few are
of the circumstances attending the gather
ing and of the fact that Arlington Cemetery is the
spot TO which this sable throng nightly resorts
There many curious and interesting facts
still unrecorded concerning even the commonest ana
best known birds, and while 1t is fact well known
to ornithologists that in winter crows congregate
at night in vast numbers to roost. it appears not
to be generally known might suppose
Within the last few years much has been written
concerning the crow. but until recently little or
nothing has been published pertaining the roost-
ing place of of the commonest birds.
visit to the Arlington roost is extremely inter-
esting. Shortly after the break of day the vast
throng of birds bestirs itself First loud clamor
shows that the birds awake; then. with shake
two. they launch forth in quest of breakfast
Starting singly, in pairs, by dozens and IN iocks
of hundreds and thousands, each wings its way 10
where the previous days meals were secured or
starts in search of feeding grounds. After
they gone the air is foul. while the bodies OF
dead birds be seen here and there on the
ground. Among the branches. as well as on the
ground are numbers too weak or disabled 70
participate in the morning flight These are readily
approached and easily caught with the hands.
trip through the surrounding country will give
glimpse of the daily life of the crows through
the winter months. Everywhere they may be seen
hunting for that which sustains life. but with the
frozen condition of the ground this is frequently
difficult to obtain. Along the river and streams
they may be walking on the ice in search
through the ice itseif Where Il is not too thick
to get to the mud beneath. and IN many places
bles land more than ice. from the quantities OF
considerable vegetable matter. mingled with an
h shesh but ~, the supply Rsre is PSrce
spot in the surrounding region left unvisited by
Coming afq from ne thr eedng sroGndn s
Crows which roost at Arlington have been seen
Up to about soeloe in the afternoon the birds tTd
to move is manifested by a few. who fly away Just
over the tree tops calling loudly as induce the
others who still tarry to follow These, too soon
depart. and by 4 o'clock half-paSt the sky Is
filled with the host bound for the roost.
An idea best be gained at this time of the
numbers that nightly resort to Arlington, for, al
though 1t Is obviously impossible to attain any
and thousands pass overhead, until 1t seems II
every crow in the United States was within sight
If one goes to the roost in the late afternoon
and early evening and watches them come in he
will that at about o'clock they begin TO
arrive, singIy and in focks. tarryng at times at
neighboring feeding grounds but soon seek
nights resting place. they gather in muItitudes 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 covered
tinue to arrive The noise is deafening. AS dark
settles few of the holder enter the
roost; these are followed by small punches of
fifty or hundred: and these by hundreds and
thousands. Suddenly with the noise Of a mighty
hurricane, vast host arises and makes a dive for
the roost. This is closely followed by another and
another and stu another. until the numbers on
the hillsides begin to show some signs of thinning
out As the darkness deepens they come in any
way-pelImell, brushing past the face, almost ny
ing against one. and alighung on the first branch
ly see, and it is amusing to watch them Topping
about waiting for chance TO throw a branch IN
their way. Every tree and bush is packed with
them and still they continue to pour down. finding
a roosting place somewhere and adding clamor to
the deafening babel already existing.
Finally all appear to have arrived and are busy
settling themselves for the night. II one utters
much as a syllable the entire army, with re-
newed cries and in the drest confusion take
flight and seek another part of the wood, only 70
repeat the same performances OF settling down.
occasional Cav which will be answered by
hundreds of the birds There is. perhaps. not ten
minutes of the night when there IS absolute quiet
at the roost-