[Birdtalk] Crow Ruminations

[Kristin Purdy]

What a difference two counties make!

This morning, I was at the corner of 4th South and 6th East in Salt Lake 
City when I heard and saw an American Crow calling from a treetop. In Salt 
Lake County, this bird seems to be a minor celebrity and is post-worthy. 
Contrast that with my experience on South Harrison Blvd in Ogden, Weber 
County, yesterday afternoon at about 5:00. I was watching the sky to the 
west and saw a flock of crows take to the air and head southeast, their 
usual direction in the late afternoon in winter. The birds became so 
numerous that I had to resort to CBC counting techniques--count ten, then 
estimate the number of tens. I figured the flock numbered 400-500 birds--not 
an unusual sight for Weber County, and not at all post-worthy.

I sure don't know why American Crows have taken such a hold in Weber County 
(first nest was only reported in 1998) while their numbers remain so low 
just two counties south. Anybody know? And while you're at it, anybody know 
what a flock of 500 crows eats every day to sustain them through the 
winter?!?

Kris