[Maine-birds] Crow Patrol Lawrence MA Sunday Jan 27 & Mon Jan 28

Sunday the 27^th

Over 50 people viewed the crows from the south side of the Merrimack River to the west of Rt. 28 (So. Broadway St.) It was sunny, in the forties with very little wind.  The crows first gathered to the west of the New Balance (NB) Distribution Center off Industrial Way in Lawrence. The crows were swirling about on the roofs of the buildings and in the trees. Some of us moved to the east beside the next building (Energy company Haffner’s) and watched a grand show as thousands of crow flew up and down and around from the roof of NB to the trees nearer the river.  The sound was deafening and made up of a variety of crow calls. The rest of the group went back to the Bashara Boathouse at 1 Eaton St. to watch the amazing concentration on the ice to the west of the boathouse.We then moved back to the boathouse.  As dusk was settling in, thousands of crows rose in waves and started to fly eastward down the river and out of view. It just is difficult to imagine what a marvelous sight this was.  We all then moved to the Riverfront State Park and looked out in the dark at a thick dark line of crows just barely visible sitting on the ice to the east of us.  So many, so exciting. What a night – the weather and the crows were stunning!!!

Monday the 28^th

Now you would think Bob and I and later joined by Craig could sit back on our laurels and just think about crows, BUT NO there we were back checking them out.  It was surprising how much of the ice had melted. None in view from the park but at the boathouse, there they were ACROSS the river in the trees lining the northside of the river – densely packed and as far west as you could see.  There were a few on the ice to the west of the boathouse but an eagle came by and flushed many. Suddenly the parade of crows moving east began from up the river, over the trees and then out of sight to the east. A river of crows to be sure and a might ybig river at that. So off to the park (now dark) where Craig joined us. Many were in the trees across from us, not many on the ice closer to the dam and just visible. Suddenly, the river of birds flew off to the west. Craig went back to the boathouse and could not see any on the river but could hear them across from him in the trees on the north side of the river.  There are so many more crows this year.  Tomorrow will bring deep cold back and the river may freeze up again. Where the crows will go when the river thaws is the next mystery.

 

Come see the show – we are leading Crow Patrol trips on WEDNESDAY Jan 30^th, Saturday February 2^nd and Wednesday February 6^th. Let us know if you are coming please. We will meet an hour before sunset at the New Balance (NB) Factory on So. Union St. and go and find the crows that day. THEY ARE NO LONGER STAGING AND ROOSTING NEARBY THE NB FACTORY.

 

Keep checking the blog – www.wintercrowroost.com

 

Do go to the Essex Art Gallery to see the crow art show Open until March 15^th Monday to Friday 10-6.

 

Check out the local restaurants. We have a list of some of them.

 

Do let us know when you see concentrations of crow.

 

Hope to see you soon,

Dana

Dana Duxbury-Fox

 

 

 

North Andover, MA