AUBURN - Some tourists visiting Auburn this weekend proposed a new economic development model for Auburn: crow-watching.
While some city residents might find this incredulous, 11 tourists came by caravan from New York City, New Paltz and Albany to join the “Crow Wildlife Watch,” sponsored by the pro-crow group Citizens Respectful of Wildlife.
Ahmed Halima, an enthusiastic visitor from New York City, found it a “once-a-lifetime” experience to watch the crows through a set of binoculars and a telescope from Auburn's downtown parking lot Saturday.
“I think this could be an incredible eco-crow event,” said Anne Muller, of New Paltz, a member of the Wildlife Watch group, which promotes the wildlife watching industry. They hope to make their sojourn to Auburn an annual event, Muller said.
The group's itinerary included a stay in Auburn's Days Inn, waking up early today to watch the crows again and a visit to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge before traveling back.
Other out-of-towners traveled separately to learn about the crows.
“It's a very pretty area; I've learned that,” said Vicky Godfrey, of Madison, Madison County, who traveled 56 miles with her mother Edith Lawton and Lawton's husband, Dana, for the crow watch.
“It looks like they've got foliage on them,” said Camillus resident Steven Bartlett as he looked at trees on the city's horizon. He works in Auburn and has been fascinated by the sheer number of crows he has watched descend on the city's trees.
He came with his daughters, Amber, 10, and Cassidy, 8, to the watch.
Amber Bartlett was intrigued to learn that crows can live for 20 years in the wild, and a domesticated crow has been kept with a family since 1947.
Their fascination with the crows was shared with Anne Clark, a SUNY Binghamton professor and behavioral ecologist, who gave a talk about crows before the watch.
Clark, who is involved in a research project about crows in Ithaca, likened crows' social behavior to human behavior.
Just like some of the crow-watchers, most of the crows are visitors to the area, Clark said. They migrate south from Canada and New England states that get engulfed in snow just like area residents go to southern states with colder weather.
The stranger crows return to their home territories in the summer. Auburn's native crow population is minuscule in comparison to the tens of thousands of foreign visitors.
The crows wintering in Auburn may like the city because there is greater warmth along waterways, Clark said. Also, because crows are active during the day and have terrible night vision, they may find the city's lights advantageous for navigation when disturbed at night.
A crowd of more than 40 people gathered for Clark's talk dropped by three-quarters when the group headed to the roof of the downtown parking garage.
As dusk settled, they watched crows roost for the night in stagings, settling on trees on the outskirts of the city before moving by short flights to their final nighttime destination.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Ahmed Halima, an enthusiastic visitor from New York City, found it a “once-a-lifetime” experience to watch the crows through a set of binoculars and a telescope from Auburn's downtown parking lot Saturday.
“I think this could be an incredible eco-crow event,” said Anne Muller, of New Paltz, a member of the Wildlife Watch group, which promotes the wildlife watching industry. They hope to make their sojourn to Auburn an annual event, Muller said.
The group's itinerary included a stay in Auburn's Days Inn, waking up early today to watch the crows again and a visit to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge before traveling back.
Other out-of-towners traveled separately to learn about the crows.
“It's a very pretty area; I've learned that,” said Vicky Godfrey, of Madison, Madison County, who traveled 56 miles with her mother Edith Lawton and Lawton's husband, Dana, for the crow watch.
“It looks like they've got foliage on them,” said Camillus resident Steven Bartlett as he looked at trees on the city's horizon. He works in Auburn and has been fascinated by the sheer number of crows he has watched descend on the city's trees.
He came with his daughters, Amber, 10, and Cassidy, 8, to the watch.
Amber Bartlett was intrigued to learn that crows can live for 20 years in the wild, and a domesticated crow has been kept with a family since 1947.
Their fascination with the crows was shared with Anne Clark, a SUNY Binghamton professor and behavioral ecologist, who gave a talk about crows before the watch.
Clark, who is involved in a research project about crows in Ithaca, likened crows' social behavior to human behavior.
Just like some of the crow-watchers, most of the crows are visitors to the area, Clark said. They migrate south from Canada and New England states that get engulfed in snow just like area residents go to southern states with colder weather.
The stranger crows return to their home territories in the summer. Auburn's native crow population is minuscule in comparison to the tens of thousands of foreign visitors.
The crows wintering in Auburn may like the city because there is greater warmth along waterways, Clark said. Also, because crows are active during the day and have terrible night vision, they may find the city's lights advantageous for navigation when disturbed at night.
A crowd of more than 40 people gathered for Clark's talk dropped by three-quarters when the group headed to the roof of the downtown parking garage.
As dusk settled, they watched crows roost for the night in stagings, settling on trees on the outskirts of the city before moving by short flights to their final nighttime destination.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.