I used to work on Rollins Avenue, often early - I would get a bagel early in
the morning at Federal Plaza shopping center and tens of thousands of crows
would be milling about the parking lots, some pausing to stare at me  as if
to say "are you going to eat that WHOLE thing?"

I, too, miss the Rockville Roost.  Even when they pooped all over my truck.

***********************
Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD

***********************


"The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the
oppressed."
- Stephen Biko 


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Janet Millenson
Sent: 11/23/2004 6:35 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] montgomery county crows question

Andy, you're basically correct about the Rockville crows. The big winter
roost used to be centered around the intersection of Montrose Road and
Executive Blvd. When most of those trees were knocked down to build
townhouses, many of the crows shifted over to White Flint. In the late
afternoon and the morning, as you noted, the birds (including both species
of crows) "commute" to and from this roost.

The size of the roost has dwindled drastically in the past few years,
probably due to the ravages of West Nile virus. The birds used to literally
blacken the sky around sunset in a primeval scene of swirling, cawing,
soaring shapes. I miss them.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)

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"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot