![]() This is supported by examining pellets of undigested food below the roost and observing that the number of crows feeding on the same carcass increases with each passing day. Research done on crow roosting behavior seems to indicate that crows are actually communicating the location of these bulky food sources during their nightly gathering rituals. This is where these evening roosts serve as exchange hubs for information. So if there’s an animal carcass lying in a forest somewhere, the crows still need to discover it without wasting too much energy on the search. Something like a dead deer or moose is very well preserved in the cold temperatures and provides huge amounts of food, but these high calorie opportunities are also much harder to find. However there are still plenty of high value foods for crows in a winter landscape if they can simply find the right opportunities. There are no insects, worms or cold-blooded creatures for crows to find on the ground when everything is frozen and dormant. This is important because food is generally much more scarce for crows during winter than it is during summer. Exchanging Information About FoodĪ fascinating discovery about evening crow gatherings is crows appear to be exchanging information to help the group find abundant food sources the following day. However there’s one other reason that’s possibly the most fascinating because it really shows the incredible intelligence of crows. So shelter & warmth is almost certainly part of the motivation for group roosting crows. ![]() This makes a lot of sense when you consider that communal sleeping groups are mainly used from fall to early spring, during the coldest and darkest time of year. They gain a few extra degrees of warmth and wind protection by commuting into these sheltered sleeping locations at night, making it that much easier to conserve energy through the long winter. Shelter & WarmthĪnother important reason for crows sleeping as a group is the ability to share shelter & warmth.Ĭrows will typically choose communal sleeping locations in sheltered urban environments that provide extra warmth & protection from the elements. ![]() It also helps to explain why crows choose sleeping locations in urban environments, as the artificial streetlight likely provides further protection by helping them see danger more easily. Sleeping in large groups means there are more crows to help out and provide flock safety if something happens at night. However as nighttime approaches, crows lose their ability to see in the dark which leaves them more vulnerable to nocturnal predators like owls. This is why when you see groups of crows all suddenly start cawing & going crazy during the daytime, it’s very often because they’re reacting to a predator. The simplest and most common explanation for why crows get together in such massive groups is for safety from predators.Ĭrows do have lots of dangerous predators like owls, hawks & eagles.ĭuring the daytime, crows are extremely skillful at scolding and chasing these dangers away (A behavior we’ve discussed in another article on crow language). Here’s what we know so far… Safety In Numbers There are actually multiple reasons why crows do this, and researchers are still working to piece together the complete story. Wave after wave of crows will swarm together in tree tops, on the roofs of buildings, or on the ground until there are thousands of crows all gathered in one place, before finally moving into their nightly roost location to sleep.īird watchers have marveled at these massive gatherings of crows at dawn & dusk for hundreds of years and speculated about why they form such large groups. So if you’ve ever seen this massive influx of noisy black corvids, you might have wondered… Why do crows gather like this?Ĭrows are communal sleepers, so they gather in massive groups to roost together at night.Īs the sun begins to set, crows will fly in from long distances to a central location where they can share warmth, safety from predators, and even exchange information relevant for survival. These flocks can grow to as many as hundreds or even thousands of crows, which really makes them stand out in the environment. One of the most striking displays of crow behavior is when crows gather together in massive groups at the end of the day. Woa, look at all those crazy crows! Why are they swarming like that?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |