Date
1 - 13 of 13
massive crow roost
|
John Walters
On 11/29/2022 8:30 AM, Bonni Thoresen
wrote:
John Walters Bonita, CA |
|
|
|
Bonni Thoresen
From Encanto (near 69th and Imperial) at daybreak I had recently seen remarkable streams of crows coming over Skyline Dr. heading northeast toward Lemon Grove and La Mesa. Before dusk they head back southwest toward Sweetwater/Plaza Bonita over my daughter's home near Plaza and Division. The neighborhood crow population has gone from 0 to dozens in 38 years I've lived here. Many hundreds of crows were gathered at Greenwood memorial park around 4:45 the other day--not sure if they were going to fly off or roost there--will try to find out. Bonni Thoresen Encanto On Mon, Nov 28, 2022 at 7:31 PM Tony Provenzano via groups.io <tprovenz57=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
|
|
|
|
As a huge crow fan, I have been watching the drastic changes in their movements over the years. I'm currently living in east Carlsbad, where I would historically see them come into this area from the Lake Hodges roost this time of year. Now, I see them come from both the coastal north and south directions heading east. In other words, they're not only coming from different roosts, but they're headed into the opposite direction that used to be typical.
I do think that there is a roost in the Torrey Pines/UCSD area based on my observations when I'm there in early mornings and evenings. I'm still trying to figure out where the crows I'm seeing that are clearly roosting on a regular bases northwest of me are coming from though. -- Lisa Marun Carlsbad |
|
|
|
I have lived on the Santa Margarita River in Fallbrook for over 40 years, near the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve.. I had a similar roost in some large pines on my property the day before yesterday, I have never before seen anything like it. I would estimate at least 600 birds. They flew away and have not reappeared.
Robert Sommers
Fallbrook |
|
|
|
Tony Provenzano
Crows; On November 11-2022, just before sunset, I was at Miramar National Cemetery and noticed an endless trail of crows Flying over, just north of the Cemetery. Over 1,000 count, flying from the east to west . Possibly to roost at UCSD. Tony Provenzano
On Monday, November 28, 2022 at 06:36:47 PM PST, Matt Sadowski <mattsadowski78@...> wrote:
Stan mentioned a roost at UCSD of ~1000 and Paul reminded me that there are a few mentioned in the Atlas update: Matt Sadowski On 11/28/2022 6:07 PM, Stan W wrote: > There is a roost of about 1000 birds on the UCSD campus > >> On Nov 28, 2022, at 6:00 PM, Matt Sadowski <mattsadowski78@...> wrote: >> >> The crows that I see in the south half of the county always seem to be on a trajectory for the Plaza Bonita/Sweetwater River riparian in the evenings. I've seen evening flocks flying south from well north of I-8, and along most of its length all the way east to Lakeside, always on a heading for Plaza Bonita. I've seen it happen recently at Lake Murray with hundreds flying S/SW along the E edge of San Carlos Bay, which happens to line up nicely with Plaza Bonita. I would hazard a guess that any crow flock south of the 52 in the evening is on its way south to Plaza Bonita. I can't say if I've ever seen crows come in from across the bay in the National City area as most that bayfront is inaccessible; birders living in Coronado would have to speak to that. >> >> The San Diego County Bird Atlas (Unitt 2004) mentions only one other crow roost in the county, at Lake Hodges, and of course barely mentions the Plaza Bonita roost since crows were still pretty new in urban south county at that time. I still remember thinking of crows as a bird that equaled undisturbed foothills and wilderness when I was first introduced to birding as a little kid in the late 80's/early 90's. Here's the Atlas account. >> >> Does anyone know of any other winter roosts in the county other than the Lake Hodges and Sweetwater River ones? I don't want to start an endless avalanche of replies here, so by "roost" I mean an actual place where the crows spend the whole night, not an evening staging area, which can form anywhere while they're on their way to an actual overnight roost. >> >> Matt Sadowski >> La Mesa >> >> >> >>> On 11/28/2022 11:15 AM, Sara Baase Mayers wrote: >>> Yes, some may be coming from Point Loma. I sometimes see a large (not huge) number flying past my house in late afternoon/evening in the direction a little east of north. That's not the direction to Bonita, so I wonder if they are headed to the Bonita roost but avoid crossing the bay. (I googled "Do crows fly over water?" but nothing useful came up, and I don't recall if I've seen them over a lot of water.) >>> >>> ====================== >>> Sara Baase Mayers >>> Point Loma (San Diego) >>> ====================== >>> >>>> On 11/28/2022 10:02 AM, Winnie Arnn wrote: >>>> Actually, I think they come from farther west than Balboa Park as I in Banker's Hill and have seen them coming in waves from NW of where I live (Laurel and Albatross)- it appears from our vantage point (at the top of a high rise facing west) that they are coming from Point Loma or Ocean Beach area. >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io <SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of Chris McCreedy >>>> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 9:14 AM >>>> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost >>>> >>>> Thanks for posting this, John, I've wondered about this. I've been watching evening and morning commutes to and from the southeast from my neighborhood in North Park, and their trajectory is consistent with your location for a roost for the birds I see. >>>> I'd guess they arrive at the roost from all directions, but I have a good viewshed in my neighborhood, and there is a well-defined NW-SE river of commuting crows each day in North Park. In the evenings I've noticed that the crows are already well-organized and en route before they pass overhead in North Park, as if they have staged at Morley Field, or northern Balboa Park, or (my hunch, given geometry from their trajectory, but I cannot confirm), from points even further northwest. >>>> >>>> Chris McCreedy >>>> North Park >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io <SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of John Walters >>>> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 7:59 AM >>>> To: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io >>>> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost >>>> >>>> >>>> On 11/28/2022 6:31 AM, lehman.paul@... via groups.io wrote: >>>>> There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around the >>>>> county at this time of year, but the one at the Bonita Plaza shopping >>>>> mall in Bonita is especially impressive. My estimate this morning is >>>>> 4,000 birds. Many of them roost at the actual mall but an even larger >>>>> number are in the bordering riparian along the Sweetwater River. This >>>>> really is impressive to see it and I suppose is reminiscent of the >>>>> movie "The Birds" on steroids. Best time to be here this morning was >>>>> between 6:00 and 6:20 a.m., although it's overcast so on a clear day >>>>> it might be a few minutes earlier. One good vantage point is standing >>>>> in the parking lot in front of the JCPenney store on the I-805 side of >>>>> the mall. And even though crows are not the favorite bird of almost >>>>> all of us, this really is quite impressive and worth seeing, and also >>>>> would be a good lesson in estimating bird numbers! >>>>> >>>>> I live in the general neighborhood, and the evening flight into the >>>>> roost is also impressive. >>>> John Walters >>>> >>>> Bonita, CA >>>> >>>> johnfwalters5552@... >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> |
|
|
|
Stan mentioned a roost at UCSD of ~1000 and Paul reminded me that there are a few mentioned in the Atlas update:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
https://bvaudubon.org/birding-resources/ Matt Sadowski On 11/28/2022 6:07 PM, Stan W wrote:
There is a roost of about 1000 birds on the UCSD campusOn Nov 28, 2022, at 6:00 PM, Matt Sadowski <mattsadowski78@...> wrote: |
|
|
|
The crows that I see in the south half of the county always seem to be on a trajectory for the Plaza Bonita/Sweetwater River riparian in the evenings. I've seen evening flocks flying south from well north of I-8, and along most of its length all the way east to Lakeside, always on a heading for Plaza Bonita. I've seen it happen recently at Lake Murray with hundreds flying S/SW along the E edge of San Carlos Bay, which happens to line up nicely with Plaza Bonita. I would hazard a guess that any crow flock south of the 52 in the evening is on its way south to Plaza Bonita. I can't say if I've ever seen crows come in from across the bay in the National City area as most that bayfront is inaccessible; birders living in Coronado would have to speak to that.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The San Diego County Bird Atlas (Unitt 2004) mentions only one other crow roost in the county, at Lake Hodges, and of course barely mentions the Plaza Bonita roost since crows were still pretty new in urban south county at that time. I still remember thinking of crows as a bird that equaled undisturbed foothills and wilderness when I was first introduced to birding as a little kid in the late 80's/early 90's. Here's the Atlas account. https://sdplantatlas.org/birdatlas/pdf/American%20Crow.pdf Does anyone know of any other winter roosts in the county other than the Lake Hodges and Sweetwater River ones? I don't want to start an endless avalanche of replies here, so by "roost" I mean an actual place where the crows spend the whole night, not an evening staging area, which can form anywhere while they're on their way to an actual overnight roost. Matt Sadowski La Mesa On 11/28/2022 11:15 AM, Sara Baase Mayers wrote:
Yes, some may be coming from Point Loma. I sometimes see a large (not huge) number flying past my house in late afternoon/evening in the direction a little east of north. That's not the direction to Bonita, so I wonder if they are headed to the Bonita roost but avoid crossing the bay. (I googled "Do crows fly over water?" but nothing useful came up, and I don't recall if I've seen them over a lot of water.) |
|
|
|
Sara Baase Mayers
Yes, some may be coming from Point Loma. I sometimes see a large (not huge) number flying past my house in late afternoon/evening in the direction a little east of north. That's not the direction to Bonita, so I wonder if they are headed to the Bonita roost but avoid crossing the bay. (I googled "Do crows fly over water?" but nothing useful came up, and I don't recall if I've seen them over a lot of water.)
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ====================== On 11/28/2022 10:02 AM, Winnie Arnn wrote:
Actually, I think they come from farther west than Balboa Park as I in Banker's Hill and have seen them coming in waves from NW of where I live (Laurel and Albatross)- it appears from our vantage point (at the top of a high rise facing west) that they are coming from Point Loma or Ocean Beach area. |
|
|
|
Winnie Arnn
Actually, I think they come from farther west than Balboa Park as I in Banker's Hill and have seen them coming in waves from NW of where I live (Laurel and Albatross)- it appears from our vantage point (at the top of a high rise facing west) that they are coming from Point Loma or Ocean Beach area.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io <SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of Chris McCreedy Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 9:14 AM To: John Walters <johnfwalters5552@...>; SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost Thanks for posting this, John, I've wondered about this. I've been watching evening and morning commutes to and from the southeast from my neighborhood in North Park, and their trajectory is consistent with your location for a roost for the birds I see. I'd guess they arrive at the roost from all directions, but I have a good viewshed in my neighborhood, and there is a well-defined NW-SE river of commuting crows each day in North Park. In the evenings I've noticed that the crows are already well-organized and en route before they pass overhead in North Park, as if they have staged at Morley Field, or northern Balboa Park, or (my hunch, given geometry from their trajectory, but I cannot confirm), from points even further northwest. Chris McCreedy North Park -----Original Message----- From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io <SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of John Walters Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 7:59 AM To: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost On 11/28/2022 6:31 AM, lehman.paul@... via groups.io wrote: There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around theJohn Walters Bonita, CA johnfwalters5552@... |
|
|
|
Thanks for posting this, John, I've wondered about this. I've been watching evening and morning commutes to and from the southeast from my neighborhood in North Park, and their trajectory is consistent with your location for a roost for the birds I see.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I'd guess they arrive at the roost from all directions, but I have a good viewshed in my neighborhood, and there is a well-defined NW-SE river of commuting crows each day in North Park. In the evenings I've noticed that the crows are already well-organized and en route before they pass overhead in North Park, as if they have staged at Morley Field, or northern Balboa Park, or (my hunch, given geometry from their trajectory, but I cannot confirm), from points even further northwest. Chris McCreedy North Park -----Original Message-----
From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io <SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io> On Behalf Of John Walters Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 7:59 AM To: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost On 11/28/2022 6:31 AM, lehman.paul@... via groups.io wrote: There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around theJohn Walters Bonita, CA johnfwalters5552@... |
|
|
|
Philip Unitt
Dear friends,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Having covered Bonita for the last few San Diego Christmas bird counts, I would recommend for the maximum surreal experience of the crow roost that you arrive at Plaza Bonita before dawn, around 5:00 to 5:30 AM. Many thousands of crows are just standing around in the parking lots as well as perching in the nearby trees. On last year's count I estimated 7500 by using sections of the parking lot as sampling units. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego -----Original Message-----
From: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io [mailto:SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io] On Behalf Of John Walters Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 7:59 AM To: SanDiegoRegionBirding@groups.io Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] massive crow roost On 11/28/2022 6:31 AM, lehman.paul@... via groups.io wrote: There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around theJohn Walters Bonita, CA johnfwalters5552@... -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. www.avg.com |
|
|
|
John Walters
On 11/28/2022 6:31 AM, lehman.paul@... via groups.io wrote:
There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around the county at this time of year, but the one at the Bonita Plaza shopping mall in Bonita is especially impressive. My estimate this morning is 4,000 birds. Many of them roost at the actual mall but an even larger number are in the bordering riparian along the Sweetwater River. This really is impressive to see it and I suppose is reminiscent of the movie "The Birds" on steroids. Best time to be here this morning was between 6:00 and 6:20 a.m., although it's overcast so on a clear day it might be a few minutes earlier. One good vantage point is standing in the parking lot in front of the JCPenney store on the I-805 side of the mall. And even though crows are not the favorite bird of almost all of us, this really is quite impressive and worth seeing, and also would be a good lesson in estimating bird numbers!John Walters Bonita, CA johnfwalters5552@... |
|
|
|
lehman.paul@verizon.net
There are a number of nocturnal crow roosts scattered around the county at this time of year, but the one at the Bonita Plaza shopping mall in Bonita is especially impressive. My estimate this morning is 4,000 birds. Many of them roost at the actual mall but an even larger number are in the bordering riparian along the Sweetwater River. This really is impressive to see it and I suppose is reminiscent of the movie "The Birds" on steroids. Best time to be here this morning was between 6:00 and 6:20 a.m., although it's overcast so on a clear day it might be a few minutes earlier. One good vantage point is standing in the parking lot in front of the JCPenney store on the I-805 side of the mall. And even though crows are not the favorite bird of almost all of us, this really is quite impressive and worth seeing, and also would be a good lesson in estimating bird numbers!
Paul Lehman, San Diego |
|
|