Winter Crow Banding and Outreach a Success!

Feb 09, 2014

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Winter Crow Banding and Outreach a Success!   
Yesterday, we spent the morning out in Ithaca, NY banding wild-caught crows to add to the study population our group has maintained for well over two decades.  We were also able to provide an opportunity for young ornithologists to learn, hands-on, how birds are banded!  We were also happy to host a photographer and journalist who was thrilled at the opportunity to learn about our favorite urban bird.  
We were a bit chilly in the snow, but all the excitement kept us nice and toasty!
                
People had a great time learning the different morphology of the individual birds, including seeing the differences between juvenile and adults!  After each crow was banded and tagged, they were carefully measured and a small blood sample was taken to determine sex and parentage as well as screen for West Nile Virus antibodies and other interests.  After that, the crows were released back into the wild to go about their lives.
                
And so, the crows flew off with their new bands and tags, presumably to live long and happy lives!  We hope to see them again soon!

RomilKazi, WastonLare, and 42 others like this.

8 comments

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Barbara

Why are you tracking crows, do you consider them a problem on the environment?

Mar 12, 20170

Barbara

I live in rural northern New Hampshire and I have fed crows cracked corn and left overs for years. During nesting season they stayed close to my yard. I would see them in the morning gathered in the trees waiting for me. Soon as I walked away they would all swoop down. When fall came they would thin out and some would disappear and some would stay for the winter. for some reason this fall/winter they all disappeared?

Mar 12, 20170

Marcus Hartmannz

Wow it is quit amazing how crows get around upstate NY. They are quit the nuisance. This past week end I shot one on the crows wearing your bands near Syracuse NY as he was flying into the set I was working off my deck.

Dec 03, 20160

Leah NettleResearcher

Hi Marcus, Do you happen to know the colors of the bands or have any photos of them? We'd love to know which of our crows this is. Thanks!

Dec 03, 20160

Marcus Hartmannz

The colored band was red. The other one was aluminum and had no color. Yes I have a picture. What is the best way to forward?

Dec 04, 20160

Leah NettleResearcher

Hi Marcus, Thanks for your reply! You can email the photo and the location where you took the photo to lnettle1@binghamton.edu.

Dec 04, 20160

Barbara

Crows are very intelligent birds. They keep their offsprings with them for 3 years! Is that what this web site is about shooting crows, getting rid of them?

Mar 12, 20170

Barbara

You are anything but amazing. Your just another trigger happy fool!

Mar 12, 20170

Kevin J. McGowanResearcher

I just wanted to mention that all three crows we caught that day have been seen back at the Cornell compost facilities, mixing in with the other crows. It's really comforting to a researcher to know that the birds you handled didn't die or depart the area right after you worked with them.

Feb 21, 20141

Barbara

Crows have a very good memory of the faces of people who handle them. Unfortunately they are not so forgiving?

Mar 12, 20170

Cindy WuBacker

This is awesome!

Feb 10, 20142

Paula CollierBacker

Thanks for the update! I was wondering how the crows are captured?

Feb 09, 20142

Ben EisenkopResearcher

They're caught in a baited drop trap. We familiarize them with the trap and have it full of food and then, the day of the banding, we close the entrance and hope they don't notice. Lots of crows are quite skeptical, so we have to be very careful that they don't see us do that! After that, the crows drop in through the top of the trap, but are unable to fly back out easily. While they wait in the trap, they're able to feast on a nice pile of meat, fish and veggies, which we hope makes up for the minor inconvenience!

Feb 09, 20141

Paula CollierBacker

Thanks for the update! I was wondering how the crows are captured?

Feb 09, 20140

Ben EisenkopResearcher

We thank everyone who has backed the project for your incredible support! If you like the project and want to see it funded, please consider sharing it with your friends and family and urging them to contribute. Even the smallest donation helps us go a long way in learning more about the ecology of these birds and educating others!

Feb 09, 20143

About This Project

What are the patterns and effects of American crow movements?

Large flocks of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) form across Upstate New York each winter, eating in fields by day, gathering—and defecating—in urban roosts at night. Roosts can contain tens of thousands of crows, and can connect rural and urban habitats in important ways. We will study crows’ ecological impact on the landscape, specifically the movement of nutrients through fecal nitrogen deposited under roosts.