Ever since the winter crows came back to Oakland I’ve wanted to watch them arrive at the roost so last Friday evening, November 4, I stopped by Schenley Farms and Pitt’s campus. What a spectacle!
Half an hour before sunset a steady stream of silent crows flew in from the southwest to the hill above Bigelow Boulevard near Centre Avenue. I assumed they would spend the night up there, but no!
Crows are afraid of great horned owls — for good reason — so they want a good view from the roost. They prefer the tops of tall well lit trees or rooftops five to ten stories high. And they want no owls nearby. Perhaps that’s why they like cities.
The sky was clear on Friday evening and the light lingered long after sunset at 6:13pm so my camera could “see” them against the sky. Before it was dark nearly 40 crows chose this bare tree. The tree isn’t full yet.
As darkness fell they left the hilltop for the area bounded by Fifth, Bayard, Bellefield and Tennyson. And now they were loud! Hundreds flew above me on Bayard Street.
They assembled at the roof edges of tall apartment buildings and then burst off to choose another site (photo at top). They landed on Alumni Hall and packed in tightly on the Wyndham Hotel roof.
… and they settled in the treetops on campus, 100 to 200 per tree.
I calculated 4,000 crows in that four block area, but they were still arriving after it was too dark to see. I have no idea how many spent the night there.
Until today most people didn’t notice the crows because rush hour was over by 6:00pm. But today we’ve changed the clocks back and rush hour will be at sunset, 5:09pm.
People will be surprised by the spectacle — and some will be repulsed — that there are thousands of crows in Oakland.
(photos by Kate St. John)
Thank you for the info and photos, Kate. So interesting! Here I thought they were starlings headed for Florida!
I remember the first time I saw the winter crows flock like this. It was about 10 years ago and I was talking with a coworker after work in the parking lot in North Point Breeze right next to the busway. I noticed a large number of crows flying quietly overhead and they just kept coming and coming and coming. After a couple minutes, I was amazed they were still coming. And they just kept coming for a good half hour or more. I don’t remember exactly how long, but I could barely keep up the conversation with my amazement at the sheer number it must’ve taken for so many to fly overhead for so long. It has always stuck with me for that reason.
I could never figure out why, just one day for ten minutes in fall, ever thing surrounding my lot was covered in black colored bird’s. Boy are they noisy.
I live Waukesha WI. Is this the same migration you are receiving?
If they’re crows, then yes.
Blackbirds and grackles also flock in the fall and are noisy … but their sound is more like a “rusty gate” or cluck instead of cawing and they are only the size of robins.
I think I have the blackbirds and grackles.
Different bird’s, same instinct.
Thanks Kate.
I saw them today just a bit after 5pm flying over 5th Ave. toward Oakland. There were in a slightly more dense stream than I usually see but I am sure it was part of the group that roosts above Beigalow Blvd. It is an amazing thing to see.
Kate, tonight the crows were over Rand, SEI, the Atrium, my bldg and garage. I went up to the roof of the garage and just stood there with crows flying all around me! It was so cool… I don’t think my video is great.. it doesn’t do it justice!