"How do you find a crow roost?"
by Staff Advisor Dick Mermon

Over the years, Crow Buster members have asked me many questions, but the one that which happened to be most interesting was “How do you find a crow roost?".

The answer to this was two things. First, apply “time” and second, “perseverance”. Like with all things, “time” must be taken to watch the birds in their flight pattern to their first gathering area. These flight patterns quite often change due to seasonal conditions, wind velocity, hills and valleys and of course, “the human element”. Then again, it must be determined whether the gathering area is a major staging location before the roost flight begins, or simply a “one stop shop for feeding” before heading to one of those primary groupings before the roost flight. This is where “time” must be applied. If it is found to be an “ultra crow junction”, then the birds, which are seen slowly departing the area in a specific direction, must be followed. This flight pattern usually leads to the roost, or where it exists. If this night habitat is discovered, do not disturb it and never ever shoot it up. Leave the area alone and take aim at the crows in the flight pattern between one of the major staging sectors, usually two or three can be found, and this night haunt. A definite roost location will reveal itself with ground cover “whitewash excretion droppings” from the birds, as well as numerous small broken branches and some feathers as they shake and fluff for the night.

The second factor, “perseverance” is in not giving up after following a batch of birds each and every time an afternoon flight pattern dwindles out. However, one thing that must be remembered is that daybreak flight patterns to feeding locations also indicate from where a crow roost could possibly be. But, this can also change with weather conditions, wind velocity and lack of forage, which may have been a major feeding lot. Nevertheless, there is an important factor to consider. First flights out from a roost are usually scout birds to find the feeding sector, then sentry crows, followed by the major portion of that nights resting birds.

Although crows usually do not employ the exact flight patterns to and from a roost, they usually head in a similar direction. This is their giveaway when tracking them to their nocturnal resting place.