Looping flight bursts!

Feb. 4, 2023 under mostly cloudy skies, wind W 10MPH, temp 11F wind chill -2; sunset time 5:01PM

On Crow Patrol with first stop atop baseball field on Incinerator Road to view Crows streaming into staging areas, then onto Marston Street with Crows starting to anchor in along the trees on both the north and south side of 35 Marston Street, just a bit east from prior visits. This image at 27 minutes after sunset time.

Unlike recent visits, the Crows were arriving and landing on trees, rooftops, and on the ground on the south side of the street. Concentrations built up within the Eversource facility and in trees on the downslope to the Merrimack River. This image with Crows lifting off, on the ground, and in the downslope trees captured at 29 minutes after sunset time.

About 30 minutes after sunset time, the Crows made a number of flight bursts, looping in flight and returning to roost trees. This image at 25 minutes after sunset time.

Further scouting behind nearby buildings showed thousands of Crows roosting in trees along the north side of the river. Final stop was on the south side of the river and looking NNW at buildup of Crows in the trees on the downslope behind the buildings on Marston Street. Another dazzling night!

For the 2022 Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for the Andover Circle, this separate Crow Count was 13,750 Crows. In 2021, the CBC Andover Circle Crow Count was 12,250. Many thanks to Donna Cooper who coordinates and compiles the Andover Circle each year!

Note on counts/estimates: we are now using improved methods for counting the large number of Crows while streaming, staging, and in the roost. For all images, we use both a modified open source counting software program, as well as a hand count approach, while outside next to the roost, to carefully document our observations and to significantly increase reliability and accuracy of the presented numbers. Please refer to our new roost counting guide on main page.

Remember to check out the latest Crow Patrol Podcast with John Macone (Merrimack River Watershed Council): wintercrowroost.com/podcast/

Photo gear used for most outings:

Canon EOS 80D with Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS 

Canon EOS 80D with Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Infrared)     

Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless with Canon RF 28-70 f/2 L IS USM 

Canon EOS R6 II Mirrorless with Canon RF 50 f/1.2 L USM 

Sony AX700 4K HDR Camcorder

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