Aerial Views!

Nov. 21, 2023 under mostly cloudy skies, calm wind, temp 37F; sunset time 4:17PM.

Out on Crow Patrol with first looks by the airport and along Sutton Street with staging Crows seen in trees, on the ground, and in flight moving towards overnight roost. While gathering in these staging areas, the Crows are heard actively vocalizing and moving around in short hops.

Next stop at open air top floor of parking garage with incoming flight streams from the SE moving to the B&D roof area for final staging. Numbers getting larger for B&D rooftop staging area. This image captured at 16 minutes post sunset time.

Moved to South Canal Street and the truck depot area. This was great vantage point to observe remaining incoming Crows and the flight movement from the B&D Warehousing building towards the overnight roost about 25 minutes after sunset time.

The roost numbers are growing and Crows are roosting in trees on both sides of the Duck Bridge. This aerial view below shows the action building up on the east side of the bridge with Crows perched in trees along the south side of the Merrimack River and mulling around on the ground in the New Balance parking lot. This image at almost 45 minutes post sunset time.

This final image from an aerial view shows the growing numbers in the trees on the north side of the New Balance building. The roosting Crows stretch out in trees farther to the west and closer to the Casey Bridge. This image about 37 minutes after sunset time. Another spectacular Crow show!

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

For all aerial documentary films with migratory and/or wintering birds or other wildlife, advance project planning and aerial imaging flight mission protocols are subject to rigorous review for “no disturbance” to any flight and perch behaviors, use of high resolution/optical zoom optics, overly cautious altitude/buffer zone levels, and low noise signature levels; all to avoid even the smallest disturbance on these migratory and/or wintering birds.

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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