Crows: Just like you and me

American Crow   (Photo by Mdf)

Apart from some distinguishing traits, such as feathers and beaks, crows are just like you and me.

Some go south for the winter.  Some stay put.  In crow talk, this is known as “partial migration.”  In human talk, it’s known as retirement or work ‘til you drop.

Partial migrators might not make it all the way to Florida.  Lazy crows might huddle in nearby cities instead.  Hamilton College researchers discovered “large winter flocks in Utica, New York.”  Not much surfing going on there.

Urban "heat islands" suffice for flocks of thousands.  Alfred Hitchcock notwithstanding, some folks find these feces-producing gangs to be “exhilarating.”  Ah, but pleasures are fleeting!  Come March, these snowbirds are off and flying, on their way back to Canadian pastures.

Resources

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/where-do-crows-go-in-winter/

Copyright September 6, 2018 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved