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

HOOPESTON -- People are grateful for the friends they're making in their new home....

URBANA -- Monday night, a class project is going before the city council. ...

CHAMPAIGN -- Parkland College is giving kids a chance to explore all kinds of interests this summer. ...

SPRINGFIELD -- If you're in town this week, you could see a piece of World War II history in the sky. ...

SPRINGFIELD -- Five motorcyclists were killed in Central Illinois just last month....

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- This week's Most Wanted is 46-year old Terry Mabry....

RANTOUL -- Authorities are investigating damage to the Command Center Building in the 800-block of Arends Boulevard....

SPRINGFIELD -- Monday, Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a second request for an extension on the deadline to file an appeal to the Supreme Court on concealed-carry....

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- Police are blaming fog for six crashes Monday morning....

CHAMPAIGN -- Salt & Light is changing the way it helps people in hopes of not running out of supplies....

 
More From WCIA News
Start
4291429242934294429542964297429842994300
End
      Page 4299 of 4717
 
Connect with ciLiving

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