[CT Birds] Fish Crow question

[greg hanisek]

I think Patrick's observations are a microcosm of what's been going on. Fish Crows have been on the increase for more than a decade, moving from almost strictly a coastal population to a larger inland presence. They've established breeding strongholds in urban areas such as Meriden, Waterbury, Torrington (I think), and at least farther south (Newtown, Watertown) in some more suburban areas with shopping strips and lots of dumpsters.
   
  The move also seems to have been west-east, as well as north-south. They seem to be more commonly encountered east of New Haven now than in the past, although I think there's been a popultion in New London for awhile. When I first started hawk-watching at Lighthouse Point they were quite uncommon there even though they were conspicuous on the West Haven side of the harbor. The last couple years they've been quite vocal at Lighthouse during the fall.
   
  They seem to have spread through the state via the river valleys and then settled in around population centers. They're nesting in the center of Waterbury and are present year-round, but they are somewhat migratory as well. I've noticed several reports in the past month of groups of birds, which probably involve short-distance migrants moving back into the state or inland from the coast.
   
  When I lived in NJ near the Delaware R the return of migrants in early sping was noticeable.
   
  Greg Hanisek
  Waterbury

David.F.Provencher at dom.com wrote:
  
My travels taking my daughter to school and picking her up again take me
passed the Lisbon Landing shopping mall. Last night and again this morning
a very vocal tight flock of roughly 20 Fish Crows were gambolling above the
mall area. I do not remember seeing this many Fish Crows inland in one
place in CT before. They may well represent birds dispersing northward,
don't know. Does anyone have any insight on the status of Fish Crows in the
interior of CT? Greg perhaps?

Also saw my first Osprey this morning in East Lyme at the head of the
Niantic River where Rte 1 crosses. I personally have not seen any on the
Millstone Station platforms yet.

Dave



-----------------------------------------
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message contains
information which may be legally confidential and/or privileged and
does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid or offer
relating thereto which binds the sender without an additional
express written confirmation to that effect. The information is
intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access
by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended
recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the
contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If
you have received this electronic transmission in error, please
reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message
in error, and delete it. Thank you.

_______________________________________________
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. 
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org