Nov. 11, 2023 under clear skies, wind N 9MPH, temp 39F; sunset 4:25PM

Out on Crow Patrol with first looks from the park by the Mill240 building just after sunset time with lots of Crows in flight up and down the Merrimack River. With very clear skies, the Crows tend to converge into the roost a bit later. Flight streams were heavy from both upriver and downriver. The Crows were packed in trees along the river behind the National Grid substation and just west of the New Balance building with loud vocalizations. This image below almost 30 minutes after sunset time.

They slowly converged in flight into the line of roost trees along the north side of the New Balance building with Crows covering the tree limbs on all sides and on top with some remaining leaves still on the trees. Had nice views of the south side of the tree line between the riverside trees and the New Balance building. This image below at 53 minutes after sunset time.

Walked the Duck Bridge from south to north on the west side, and back down the east side. Crows were perched at the north end of the bridge on the west side. This has been a normal perching area, but the Crows that settle here always move to the main roost trees later. This image at 55 minutes after sunset time.

We discovered more Crows at the south end of the Duck Bridge on the east side in the riverside trees that extend to the new Pavilion at Riverwalk. This project developed by the Lupoli Companies in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is an 80,000-square-foot mixed-use structure that features a 1,200-vehicle precast concrete parking garage with a regulation-size state-of-the-art turf sports field on the top level, full-service conference/event center, waterfront restaurant, outdoor recreational space, and direct access to some of the most iconic and scenic views of the Merrimack River and the locally famed Ayer Mill Clock Tower. This image was captured as a loud truck was making huge banging noises heading north onto the bridge at 56 minutes after sunset time.

Here is a final look at the Crows almost fully settled into the overnight communal roost trees along the Merrimack River by the red brick New Balance building with vocalizations falling off to low levels, Another great night out!

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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