[Birdtalk] Crow Ruminations

[Stephen Peterson]

There is usually a large murder of crows around the eastern part of Logan along 400 N.This morning I saw at least 30 birds cruising around campus, picking through the shrubs that are near to the buildings.I would venture a guess that they are foraging around for ANYTHING dead. Window kill birds are common around these buildings.They could also be eating fruits of the shrubs and fallen crab apples. I have seen crows eat anything and everything.In Logan there is a local flour mill, which is usually surrounded by pigeons and starlings, but I have also seen crows hanging about there.I would assume Ogden has something similar. And places like that are sure to attract rodents, which crows will eat as well.Not to mention an incredible smorgasbord of dumpster diving around restaurants, grocery stores, etc. available to them in urban areas.The number of crows in Logan is very much like what you are seeing in Ogden. That is odd that you don't see the same numbers inSalt Lake county.I know that most people have no interest in them,but I find them very fascinating. Super smart birds.StephenFrom: jbloft at wildblue.netTo: birdtalk at utahbirds.orgSubject: Re: [Birdtalk] Crow RuminationsDate: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:11:42 -0700








I don't know why crows hang out in Weber 
County.
 
I have often seen crows foraging on fields where 
farmers have spread "Gold Dust".
This is common here in Southern Cache Valley in 
the Spring and Fall.  Right now, there doesn't seem to be many crows 
around, but I have seen a few in Hyrum and Logan within the past week. 

 
Jim
 
Paradise, Utah  Cache County
 
http://donce.lofthouse.com/jamaica/Fall/fall.htm

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Kristin Purdy 
  To: Bird Talk 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 9:39 
  PM
  Subject: [Birdtalk] Crow 
Ruminations
  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 
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