Winter’s coming and the crows are back in Pittsburgh.
Last week at dusk I saw 3,000 flying over Shadyside heading directly west, but I don’t know where they were heading.
Four years ago they roosted above the Strip District near 21st Street and Liberty Ave where Sharon Leadbitter captured them in this video. But there’s no guarantee that’s their favored place this year.
When crows become too annoying we humans apply just enough pressure to move them along. Sometimes they move a little, sometimes a lot. The year they quit the Strip District they chose an abandoned spot in the Hill District.
Where’s the crow roost this year? Have you seen it?
We need to know before Pittsburgh’s Christmas Bird Count on December 26 so we can count the crows. 🙂
(Youtube video by Sharon Leadbitter)
Zen and his friend Celeste saw crows waking from their roost at dawn near Polish Hill earlier this month, but I don’t know exactly where they were…
It’s still got to be in that general area. They are still headed WNW over North Oakland near Baum & Millvale. Been quite a good number of them the last week or two.
The roost is on Heron at Bigelow, but spans the hill top for about a mile.
I’ve noticed more crows in the Hill District close to the Kaufman Center on Forbes in recent weeks. There’s a wooded area there. Many were in the trees lining the street last week. This is around 8:30 am on Wednesday morning that I’m there.
Talk about a timely question! I just asked the same thing you did.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2015/11/23/you-can-help-solve-a-mass-murder/
Did you find it? I would love to see them roosting again.
Tim, the answer is “maybe”. See Celeste’s comment. I haven’t personally gone looking yet and by the time I do they may have moved from Celeste’s reported location.
Found it! Tonight they’re roosting around St. Benedict The Moor school in the Hill District at Webster & Watt streets. It was not as numerous as I remember but a few thousand at least.
I live in Spring Hill above the North side of Pgh. Every winter these crows stop in St. John’s Cemetary every day . I watch them come from all directions to meet there. Then after about an hour or so, they all start leaving . They seem to head towards east end of city. It’s amazing to see and hear. Unfortunately they didn’t stay long as winter wasn’t too bad. I look for to December every year . I love crows and ravens!! They’ll be back next year for sure.