The crows -- and crow trucks -- are returning to Albany

crows sky albany twilight 2015-02-17

The cold nights arrive. The leaves fall. And the crow dispersal trucks migrate back to the city of the Albany.

Identifying information for this species and its seasonal visits, from a city press release:

The dispersal will take place in the areas surrounding Hackett Blvd. and Sheridan Blvd. in Albany. The City of Albany requested assistance to scatter the crows because of their droppings and the ruckus they create.
The non-lethal dispersal will be conducted by wildlife biologists from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They will be driving marked vehicles and wearing uniforms and a yellow safety vest marked "USDA Wildlife Services."
The work will be repeated at two-week intervals throughout winter where roosts develop.
The non-lethal methods used to disperse crows include pyrotechnics, spotlights, non-harmful lasers, and recorded crow distress calls that are amplified. Several of these methods produce loud noises and flashing lights similar to sirens and fireworks that frighten birds and may be heard or observed by local residents.
Residents are strongly encouraged to place household trash in containers with lids to discourage crows from feeding. Residents may also use bright flashlights to disperse crows roosting in trees.

Look for the first sightings of the trucks in the evenings of November 20 and 21. They can easily be spotted with the naked eye, no binoculars needed. You may also learn to recognize their distinctive call if you listen for them.

Earlier:
+ A dossier on our crow invaders
+ A seasonal farewell to the crows

Comments

Has anyone read the Lemony Snicket Series? I am worries we might be the Vile Village! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vile_Village

Good. More crows for Troy!

I know that the poop laden sidewalks on State st between 2nd and 3rd bother some and that hundreds of crows flowing off the hill at dusk to roost in the city can be disconcerting to some but it's also an awesome sight to behold in the truest sense of the word.

My grandmother has Alzheimers and sometimes comes to stay with us in Troy. Last week the absolutely highlight of her day was seeing the hundreds of crows that came streaming by the window at our apartment. I watched her go from completely unresponsive to engaged... stringing questions together and returning to her old joyful self for the half hour she watched those birds was enough to endear crows to me forever.

If you see someone running around throwing bird seed in Riverfront Park yelling "COME ON DOWN, BIRD FRIENDS!", it's me.

Jenna, have you ever heard the song from the audiobook? It's all I can think about. Love them crows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4NVn8hbo-0

Whatever they're doing is a complete failure. The crows just gather in other places. There are huge flocks in Lincoln Park and the basketball park on Philip Street making stupid amounts of noise.

Cmaxby is my favorite person today.

As for Jeff, you'd better look out buddy, crows can recognise faces and they're coming for folks who dislike them...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html

@Jamie

I don't dislike crows, I dislike that this dispersal is just making problems in other places. It seems I'm not the only one, either. Last year there was a dead crow rotting on the sidewalk just past the Lincoln Park pool house, left there for months.

Their "Ruckus" Is Their Communicating With Each Other.

And They Were Here Before 'Albany' Was. Crows Are Very
Smart, Helpful And Pretty. Black And Gold Is Quite Nice.

You Can Either Pick Up Your Own Dead Squirrels, Or Let
The Crows Clean Them Up FOR You. I Assume Albany
Owns A Hose Of Some Sort?

Crows Are Also Smarter Than Most 'Albanians', Definitely
Brighter Than Most Politicians, Including 'The Mayor'.

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