Flight bursts!

Feb. 2, 2023 under clear skies, wind SW7 PMH, temp 36F; sunset time 4:59PM

Out on Crow Patrol with first stop along Incinerator Road to watch incoming Crows and staging area along the south side of the Merrimack River along Riverview Street. At sunset time, moved over to lower Marston Street with initial incoming flight streams arriving about 15 minutes after sunset time.

The roost started to build up with each successive wave of arriving Crows, with the thickest concentration at the east end of the roost area, and with wild vocalizations. As always, there were a number of dazzling flight bursts looping out over Marston Street. Image at 28 minutes post sunset.

Incoming flight waves kept coming into the overall roost area more than 30 minutes post sunset time with this wave arriving from the south. Image at 31 minutes post sunset time.

The jostling within the roost continued with each flight burst, and the Crows spread the roost line out towards Prospect Street with bursts lasting until close to 60 minutes after sunset time. Image at 48 minutes post sunset time.  Another amazing Crow show!

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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