On Thursday, October 16, Craig had the great pleasure of giving his presentation, “The Crows of Lawrence,” at Memorial Hall Library in Andover. The event was co-sponsored by the Village Garden Club of Andover and the Library, a terrific partnership that brought together an enthusiastic and curious audience.

We had more than 40 people join us for the talk, which ran about an hour and covered everything from the crows’ winter roosting habits in Lawrence to their incredible intelligence, social behavior, and adaptability to city life. The crowd was really engaged with plenty of nods, laughs, and great questions along the way!

After the talk, we had a lively and wide-ranging Q&A session that could have gone on much longer. The questions showed a real appreciation for these birds, how they think, communicate, and find ways to thrive among us.

A big thanks to Program Chair Sue Rollfs, the Village Garden Club of Andover, Nicole Kramer, and Memorial Hall Library for co-sponsoring and hosting the event, and to everyone who came out on a beautiful October evening to learn more about the crows. It’s always inspiring to see how much interest and affection people have for these remarkable birds.

As the talk wrapped up, the audience’s enthusiasm was clear! Hands shot up right away, and what followed was a lively and wide-ranging Q&A that touched on everything from crow family life to their nighttime habits.

A Spirited Q&A with Curious Crow Watchers

Following the presentation, audience members dove eagerly into a lively and wide-ranging Q&A session, with thoughtful questions that reflected both curiosity and genuine fascination about crow behavior and biology.

Q: How did the Fish Crow get its name?
It’s a great question, and one that goes back to early ornithologists in the 1800s. Fish Crows were first identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where they were often seen feeding near estuaries, rivers, and harbors. Observers noticed that they frequently foraged along shorelines, picking up small fish, shellfish, and other marine tidbits, hence the name Fish Crow. Today, we know they’re not limited to fish at all; they’re highly opportunistic feeders, eating everything from insects and seeds to French fries in a parking lot.

Q: How long do American Crows live?
While many don’t survive their first year, those that do can live surprisingly long lives. On average, American Crows live around 7–8 years in the wild, but banding studies have confirmed individuals reaching 17–20 years, and one remarkable crow lived nearly 30 years. Like people, their longevity depends on avoiding predators, disease, and human dangers such as vehicles or shooting.

Q: Why do so many young crows die in their first year?
The first year of life is tough for young crows. After fledging, they spend several days on the ground or in low branches before they can fly well, which makes them easy targets for predators such as owls, hawks, raccoons, and even cats. Some fall victim to weather or human hazards. Once they make it through that vulnerable first year, their odds of long-term survival improve dramatically.

Q: Do crows mate for life?
They do, for the most part. American Crows form long-term monogamous pairs that often stay together for life unless one dies. Both parents share nesting duties and raise their young cooperatively. What’s especially fascinating is that older offspring frequently stay around to help their parents raise the next brood, a rare example of family teamwork in the bird world.

Q: Do crow families stay together during winter roosts?
Yes, but more loosely. Family members often remain in contact through the fall and winter, traveling and foraging together by day. At night, though, they join thousands of other crows at communal roosts. Within those roosts, families may roost near each other, but they mix freely among the larger group. It’s a bit like an extended family joining a giant community gathering for warmth, safety, and social interaction.

Q: Do crows really sleep with one eye open?
They do! Like many birds, crows can sleep with one eye open and one half of the brain awake, a remarkable adaptation called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep. This lets them stay partially alert to danger, especially when perched in exposed areas. In large winter roosts, crows on the outer edges tend to sleep more lightly, while those in the center rest more deeply, relying on the safety of the group.

Q: Do crows have a nictitating membrane?
Yes, every crow has one. It’s a thin, translucent “third eyelid” that sweeps sideways across the eye. It protects the eye from dust and debris, keeps it moist, and acts like built-in goggles during flight or when feeding young. If you look closely at a crow in good light, you might even spot the membrane flashing quickly across its eye, a brief ghostly blink.

Q: Do crows have a tapetum lucidum like cats and owls?
No, they don’t. The tapetum lucidum is the reflective layer behind the retina that helps nocturnal animals see in the dark, it’s what causes a cat’s eyes to glow in headlights. Crows are daytime birds, so their eyes are adapted for bright light and color vision. They have excellent low-light sensitivity for dawn and dusk activity, but no reflective layer like true night hunters.

Q: If crows don’t have a tapetum lucidum, why do their eyes seem to shine under infrared light?
That’s a great observation, and a fascinating optical illusion! What you’re seeing isn’t a biological glow but a retroreflection of the infrared beam off the smooth surfaces of the crow’s retina and cornea. Infrared-sensitive cameras amplify this reflection, making the eyes appear to shine even though crows lack a reflective layer like cats or owls. Essentially, you’re seeing light bounce off the crow’s eyes, not light being generated or reflected from a special structure.

The thoughtful questions and observations made for a wonderfully engaging exchange, proof that curiosity about crows runs deep in our communities. Many attendees lingered afterward to share local crow stories, winter roost sightings, and personal reflections on these remarkable birds. Heartfelt thanks again to Sue Rollfs, to the Village Garden Club of Andover, Nicole Kramer, and Memorial Hall Library for co-sponsoring the event and creating such a welcoming setting for learning, conversation, and shared discovery. It was an evening that truly celebrated both the intelligence of crows and the enthusiasm of those who watch and wonder about them.