29 December 2024
We tried but it was daunting. Last evening Carol Steytler, Claire Staples, Lisa Kaufman and I counted crows coming into the roost near the VA Hospital in Oakland for the Pittsburgh Christmas Bird Count. 15,000 crows. More or less. Probably more.
For an accurate count we needed all these conditions to be met simultaneously and all of them are under the crows’ control. Last night the crows beat us with blobs and darkness.
- Know where the roost is.
- Know the flight paths they use to reach the roost.
- Know the size in the sky of a blob of 100 or 1,000 crows and be able to see the blobs.
Darkness: Here’s what I mean. You can’t see the crow until I alter the photo (from Wikimedia Commons). Nor could we.
Crow in the dark, perched on a branch
Details of the count:
The crows used the same roost site (sort of) that we found on Friday: the VA Hospital roof + nearby buildings. Miraculously they didn’t change the roost. However, the roof itself is too high to see so we used flight-path counting from the OC Lot parking deck. I’m sure some were hidden by buildings as they came in and weren’t counted.
Flight paths change day to day but Saturday’s was better than Friday’s from their pre-roost staging site in the west, backlit by the glow of sunset as shown at top. Very soon it was too dark to see black birds in a black sky. And the crows were frequently diverted by Stat MedEvac helicopters flying back and forth from UPMC Presbyterian.
Crow flock flight density — the blobs — changed all the time of course. We saw 100 crows in long strings, in very tight balls, and everything in between. Hard to count.
I’ve been counting crows for the CBC since 2018. It is always a challenge.
15,000 crows? We will never know for sure.
The crows are probably laughing at us.
p.s. Lisa and I are thinking of practicing the blob-count next month while the crows are still in town. If you have a suggestion for counting you must first count with us this winter. (I’m not kidding!)
If you’re an experienced crow counter no need to join us; we welcome your tips.
The poor humans cried out “How many are there?!” And the only reply was a murderous laugh in the dark.
Well done!! What a challenge; I had no idea all the criteria you have to follow for the count.
Has anyone tried counting the Pgh crows by filming them as they make their way to the roost and then using software, or people going clip by clip, to count them? I’ve been told that lots of wildlife counts are done by software analyzing videos. I don’t think there is any freely available software for such, but maybe your friends in the game community know of something.
The problem with filming is darkness. Would need an infrared camera to see the crows.
Good Luck
Kate,
Congratulations to you and your team for tackling such a challenging crow count in Oakland! Your persistence and ingenuity in overcoming obstacles like shifting flight paths, obstructed views, and even the Stat MedEvac helicopters are commendable. The combination of sunset lighting, dense “blob” formations, and the ever-present challenge of darkness makes this feat all the more impressive!!
Your recounting of the event captures the essence of why counting these clever and mysterious birds is as rewarding as it is daunting. The crows’ ability to “beat us with blobs and darkness” truly reflects their uncanny knack for staying one step ahead of us.
As you and Lisa consider practicing blob-counting, I’d like to suggest checking out our “Winter Crow Roost Photography Guide*” downloadable at http://www.wintercrowroost.com. While no tool can fully solve the challenges you faced, this guide offers tips and techniques that might help refine your documenting photos in tricky low-light conditions.
Thank you for sharing your experiences—it’s inspiring to see such dedication to understanding these remarkable birds. Wishing you continued success in your winter counts, and perhaps a touch of luck with the light and flight paths next time!
All the best,
Craig Gibson
2024 Crow Patrol
Lawrence, MA
cbgibson AT Comcast.net
wintercrowroost.com