crows infest downtown hillsdale
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
Students and residents who live and work in downtown Hillsdale have recently noticed a large population of crows around the city's courthouse.
"They fill the trees at five in the morning and stay until sunrise," Palace Café Manager Steve Powell said. "It's very eerie."
Powell said he thinks the number of crows in the trees and courthouse tower is in the thousands.
Hearing and seeing the crows in the trees has become second nature, he said.
According to Powell, the birds lived downtown last year, too.
Powell said last year the birds began swarming around the first snowfall and left at the end of April or the beginning of May. This year, they came in October. He expects them to continue roosting in the trees around the courthouse until about the same time.
Sophomore Will Bartlett describes himself as a bird watcher and crow enthusiast. He said he saw at least 2,000 crows flying above Hillsdale while at a gas station a few weeks ago.
Bartlett is a member of the American Society of Crows and Ravens.
Bartlett said crows live in large groups called murders. He said the crows must have a large nesting area nearby and come into town to feed.
"They're omnivores," Bartlett said. "When they feed, they branch out."
According to Bartlett, crows eat grain and scavenge trash but also feed on insects, mice, frogs and carrion. Bartlett said the crows in Hillsdale are probably American crows, a species prevalent across the country.
"Anywhere people are there will be American crows because there's plenty of trash," he said.
The ritual comings and goings of the crows leaves some locals perplexed.
"It's just a strange thing that happens," Powell said. "They just stay in the trees. I have no idea where they take off to."
Hunt Club server Becky Williams said she saw the birds swarming in the trees early in the morning when she worked at a local bank.
"Any morning, it doesn't matter what the weather is like, they're there," she said.
"They fill the trees at five in the morning and stay until sunrise," Palace Café Manager Steve Powell said. "It's very eerie."
Powell said he thinks the number of crows in the trees and courthouse tower is in the thousands.
Hearing and seeing the crows in the trees has become second nature, he said.
According to Powell, the birds lived downtown last year, too.
Powell said last year the birds began swarming around the first snowfall and left at the end of April or the beginning of May. This year, they came in October. He expects them to continue roosting in the trees around the courthouse until about the same time.
Sophomore Will Bartlett describes himself as a bird watcher and crow enthusiast. He said he saw at least 2,000 crows flying above Hillsdale while at a gas station a few weeks ago.
Bartlett is a member of the American Society of Crows and Ravens.
Bartlett said crows live in large groups called murders. He said the crows must have a large nesting area nearby and come into town to feed.
"They're omnivores," Bartlett said. "When they feed, they branch out."
According to Bartlett, crows eat grain and scavenge trash but also feed on insects, mice, frogs and carrion. Bartlett said the crows in Hillsdale are probably American crows, a species prevalent across the country.
"Anywhere people are there will be American crows because there's plenty of trash," he said.
The ritual comings and goings of the crows leaves some locals perplexed.
"It's just a strange thing that happens," Powell said. "They just stay in the trees. I have no idea where they take off to."
Hunt Club server Becky Williams said she saw the birds swarming in the trees early in the morning when she worked at a local bank.
"Any morning, it doesn't matter what the weather is like, they're there," she said.
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Matt
posted 5/29/08 @ 10:10 AM EST
TED talk video: Joshua Klein on The amazing intelligence of crows:
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/261
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