(no subject)

[arethinn]

I've heard of the dawn chorus, but the crow population of De Anza College - or at least that part which occupies certain trees near the corner of this building - seems to have taken up doing a dusk chorus raucous.^* ruckus.^**

(I was about to say "you could almost set your watch by..." until I realized that it wasn't the fact that it was 6 PM, because a few weeks ago this was happening at 6:30 PM. It's that the sun is setting. Dur-hay.)

It's kinda neat.

---

* BE AMAZED as arethinn daringly nouns adjectives!

** edit: Duh. There was already a suitable noun. And "dusk ruckus" is assonant and sounds cool.

Comments

[eldriwolf]

Crows are smart-and-social.
Sometimes roosts are used by birds who have spent the day scattered miles apart-- so naturally they must 'exchange gossip' before bedding down.
I suspect 'food information' from individuals who foraged in different areas, might be high on the list.
.. reforging friendships, organizing groups, before bedtime
..Even chickens, (who have been together All Day) have a chatty time of intense interaction as they settle in for the night.

I think the hens are mostly doing: "Where are You?",(locating each other in the dark)check-ins, and "Who sits 'here'?" seating discussions
(--which can devolve into shoving matches for prime perches.)
with less actual 'news' than crows--but of course I do not know

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Last year, in the summer, we were trying to film a scene for a short movie (the results are here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8HyEkufKlQ&feature=channel_video_title)) and we shot this one scene on the University of Maryland Campus. Apparently, we were attempting to fit it into a major crow social event. Eventually, the cast and crew were reduced to shouting "shut up!" up at the trees.

(It's the scene with the two guys talking and the playing cards outdoors, I think you can still hear some crows in the background, but that's not bad, as it's a horror movie and all.)

[arethinn]

I hear this kind of thing is also called a "parliament", for the obvious resemblance.

[eldriwolf.livejournal.com]

some birds have "rain songs" for wet weather. (quiet drizzly rain)
Too damp to fly much, they sit in the trees, and make repetitive, slightly sad songs--'rain, rain, rain'
I haven't heard that song at other times

[arethinn]

The ruckus was early today, back around 5:30. Maybe there was something important on television and they all had to get home sooner ;)