Quantcast
breaking news

Crow population drops in Danville

Updated: January 10, 2013
watch video
DANVILLE -- The city of Danville has been a popular gathering place for crows, but this winter, birdwatchers noticed something strange.
A lot of those birds have disappeared. 
"As the months rolled on, people weren't complaining as much about the crows," said Mary Jane Easterday with the Middlefork Audubon Society. Families have complained about the noise and droppings the birds left behind for years. 
But this year, Audubon says the crow population has dropped by more than half. The group conducts an annual Christmas bird count. They estimate there are a little over 121,000 crows roosting in Danville this year. Past numbers were as high as 250,000. 
"It's probably been affected by the drought," said Steve Bailey with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Bailey says the dry conditions means less fruits and nuts, plus less animals that eat those things as well. Crows are omnivores so their food supply has dwindled as well. "There isn't much of everything the crow eat."
Experts also think West Nile may have played a role in the unexpected drop. A dead crow near the Chicago area tested positive for that virus a few months back. Experts say they're not certain what's behind the decreasing numbers; they don't know where the birds have headed to either.
Easterday says she's called a number of Audubon groups in Central Illinois. All report little to no fluctuations in their crow population.

Comments

Log in to comment on this article

Readers Feel...

hello
Related Content

URBANA -- Your spring cleaning could help the dogs and cats at the Champaign County Humane Society....

CENTRAL ILLINOIS-- There's a new drug hitting central Illinois, and experts at the Illinois Poison Center say it's more dangerous than other well known drugs on the market. ...

VIRGINIA-- A man is dead after a crash between a truck and a motorcycle....

Springfield -- Senate Bill now heading to Governor Pat Quinn's desk...

The forecast for the next few hours....

CHAMPAIGN -- It's a sign of the summer; corn dogs, rides and games but this fair is more than just fun....

CHAMPAIGN -- A Mahomet man faces decades behind bars for video-taping women in the bathroom. ...

DECATUR -- A parking garage described as an eyesore is finally being torn down....

CATLIN-- A train and semi collided Friday in Vermilion County....

NORMAL-- The father of a student fired shots in a high school was sentenced today....

 
More From WCIA News
  • Group to Make Pitch for Old Nursing Home
    Reported By: Christina Wall/ WCIA3 News
    Monday, May 14, 2007 @ 4:35 PM
    We know more about what could move in to the old champaign county nursing home. Residents moved out three months ago. Since then its sat...
    Read More»
  • Magic Wand
    Reported By: Anne Dill/WCIA 3 News
    Monday, May 14, 2007 @ 2:23 PM
    Botox revolutionized plastic surgery by getting rid of wrinkles without going under the knife..instead using a needle. Now you...
    Read More»
  • C U one to one mentoring program
    Reported By: Michelle Liu/WCIA 3
    Monday, May 14, 2007 @ 2:21 PM
    A mentoring program in Champaign may be cut after federal funding runs out and the District facing a tight budget
    Read More»
  • Champaign County Man faces tougher charges in Urbana shooting
    Reported By: Michelle Liu/WCIA3
    Monday, May 14, 2007 @ 2:12 PM
    A suspect police believe shot a Champaign man last week faces two more charges that could land him in prison for life
    Read More»
  • Cyclists
    Reported By: Betty Simpson/WCIA-3 News
    Monday, May 14, 2007 @ 8:00 AM
    Cyclists
    Read More»
Start
4181418241834184418541864187418841894190
End
      Page 4187 of 4600
 
Connect with ciLiving

 
 
 
©1998 - 2013 Illinoishomepage.net
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
All Rights Reserved