Crows

Week of January 11, 2026 – January 17, 2026

by Elizabeth Suzedell, Environmental Educator

Have you ever seen a flock of thousands of crows? If you’ve ever been in Syracuse or Auburn, NY on a winter evening, then you probably have. In these cities, along with many other urban areas around the country, tens of thousands of American crows gather at night to roost. These activities are a rather spooky thing to watch, and many people think their loud, resounding “caws” are very annoying, but I think the crows are fascinating!

In the winter time, the crows around here seem to have a regular daily routine. They head out into the nearby cornfields during the day to find food, such as grains and bugs. Just before sunset, they fly back into the cities, which are just a little bit warmer than the rural areas. Then, they find tall trees in places like parks and cemeteries where they roost in large numbers. Being close together helps them stay safe from predators like owls, and it keeps them warm during frigid nights. If you see them up in the trees, it looks like the trees are full of big, dark leaves.

Crows are amazingly intelligent. They make tools out of sticks and leaves to get food out of inconvenient places, they solve problems together, and they recognize human faces. They can even tell other crows which humans have been helpful (or mean) to them. Many people have been able to befriend crows by consistently feeding them peanuts, and some crows have been known to bring back trinkets in return! Their gifts usually include shiny things, such as coins, candy wrappers, pieces of metal, glass, or earrings.

This winter, I encourage you to take some time to observe the behavior of crows when you see them. They are truly remarkable and extraordinary birds!

We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!