I was wondering if you could tell me , why I am seeing so many crows around my house this time of year. There are as many as 20 to 50 of them, and they have been around for the past two weeks. I live on Armstrong Drive and have a green space behind the house, but the crows for the most part are on the road or the snow covered lawns. Usually we do not see these birds like this until early March.
L. Jones, Armstrong Drive
NOTE: Although most crows do migrate south in the winter – often no further than the Great Lakes or northern U.S. – some do stay in the Kawarthas every year. Crows are very social animals and are almost always in flocks outside of the nesting season. I suspect the birds are “roosting” near your house – that is, spending the night together in the same trees. They are probably finding food in your neighbourhood (crabapples, regular apples, etc.) so that’s why you’re seeing them during the day. They also forage in nearby grain fields where they eat waste corn and other grains. Crows seem to prefer to roost in cities because of food availability and it may also be safer (i.e., no great horned owls to kill them at night!). Some researchers think they also like the lights of cities at night. Who knows? D.M.
Crow roost in October near Jackson Park – Barb Evett
American Crow – Wikimedia
