I admit it – I am a fan of the corvid family. Ravens, crows, magpies and jays are so clever and tenacious I can’t help be impressed. And yesterday evening I reached corvid fan nirvana.
Each fall, American crows gather in large groups called murders, and migrate to warmer climes. In Calgary, they have selected a stunning roosting site in Nose Hill Park.
This park is one of the largest municipal parks in Canada, and contains a large expanse of native rough fescue grasslands. The park is also dotted with small groves of poplar trees, located in an area called Many Owls Valley (for good reason, I might add).
Nose Hill Park, Calgary, Alberta
We arrived at the park just after 8:00 pm. As were climbing the hill, the crows started coming. Wave after wave of crows.
There seemed to be about 40-50 crows per wave, and they just kept coming, and coming, and coming. While it’s nearly impossible to count that many birds, we estimated about 1,500-2,000 came in while we were there. Up to 8,000 crows at one time have been estimated to roost there.
As they came in, they began to perch on the top of the poplar trees. Spindly little branches that you wouldn’t think would hold a crow, but every branch did.
The crows flew right over our heads on their way to their roost. Totally unconcerned about the pesky humans and their dog, some of them cleared our heads by just a few feet. We could hear the whiff, whiff, whiff of their wings as they floated over us. One of them missed my head by about 5 feet.
And you know why we could hear the whiff of the wings? They were silent. Completely silent. As any corvid fan knows, these birds are famous for their noise, yet there was not a peep out of these incoming crows. Once they settled down, they would occasionally give a throaty little chirrup, as if to say, oh good, now I can relax. But their flight was completely silent.
The light was fading rapidly, and still the crows were coming in. And I was still trying to take pictures.
Eventually we ran out of light altogether, and the humans and their dog had to make their way out of the park. And the crows kept coming. In an eerie silence.
Sunset behind the Rocky Mountains, taken from Nose Hill Park, Calgary
Looking to view a large concenration of fall crows in Manitoba. Any kinfo or general locations?
I’ve recently moved to the north end of Nose Hill Park and have also noticed the large murder of crows in the area. Throughout May and June they have been very numerous. At first I was very interested in why there was such an abundance of crow in the area wondering if they were mating or if there was possibly an animal carcass in the area. After seeing the large murder returns weekly over a couple of months I ruled these theories out. After reading this blog I now understand that this is very near their roosting sites in Nose Hill Park and would make sense to the large amount of birds. To the residents in the area I agree the crows are a nuisance and to the bird watchers just before sunset seems to be the time they fill the skies.Thanks for the Info.
Received the following info for you:
There were high no’s of N W Crows passing over the Bby General Hosp about a week back heading SE towards Deer Lake Park or a roost in the trees near the hospital area. Large roosts along Still Creek near the Costco and Cen. Valley biking trail in the summer.
does anyone know where i may go to see Crows roost in Burnaby BC or Maple Ridge BC?
It may be a neat experience unless you live nearby. They are not always ‘silent’. Quite often they fly around by the hundreds making a horrible CAH, CAH, CAH, CAH, CAH !!!! Not a pleasant way to wake up in the morning. There are no more songbirds around – frightened off I suppose. The crows do not only perch in the trees, they use rooftops also. Hundreds at a time will blacken a rooftop of the houses near Nose Hill, leaving their excrement all over. They will ravage open garbage bags. They scare small children. They may be a wonder to those passing through, but they are a nuisance to those who live nearby.
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Sounds like such a neat experience, Pat. I’m interested, but not surprised now that you mention it, that the crows were quiet. I wonder what would happen if a Red Tailed Hawk would fly over…