The phenomenon occurs twice daily, once in the early morning and again in the late afternoon. While it doesn't compare with a solar eclipse, it's still impressive if you happen to be outdoors when it occurs. Even on a cloudy day, the sky begins to blacken and this continues for many minutes. No, it isn't a storm front moving in, but rather hundreds of crows, as the birds make their way to and from local roosting areas.
While places like Auburn, which has seen its invading crow population soar to as high as 75,000 birds, the black-feathered hoards have also taken a liking to many other cities and larger villages such as Norwich. In Albany, the birds have become so plentiful and bothersome that the Capitol's Department of General Services began using trained marksmen to try and annually control their numbers, or at least scare them away. Locals have come to call it "The Annual Running of the Crows."
All joking aside, when any wildlife species becomes too numerous, it could endanger both the overabundant species as well as other species, including humans. Avian species normally are seen as a lesser danger, compared to mammals such as deer, fox, raccoon, skunk, and rodents, the latter species being susceptible to rabies. However, when birds such as crows, geese, starlings and pigeons become too numerous, other threats increase. Being flocking species, they tend to concentrate, and as densities increase, they not only begin to foul their favored environments with their highly acidic droppings, but the opportunity for disease spreading through the flocks increases proportionately with the densities.
With crows, their flock densities are highest during the winter season and will disperse just prior to the spring nesting period. Our local roosts now contain hundreds of crows, and the oversized flock will remain together for another month or so. With so many birds sharing both roosts and feeding areas, it was just a matter of time before nature stepped in to reduce their numbers.
A strain of avian "reovirus" (pronounced: REE-O virus) has been responsible for crow die-offs reported in at least six counties across New York in late December, according to a DEC investigation. Dead crows were reported in Albany, Dutchess, Jefferson, Montgomery, Orange and Steuben counties during that period, sometimes in large groups (exact numbers for the total die-off are not available; estimates are in the hundreds). Since crows roost in large groups during the winter, this has enabled the virus to spread more quickly
"Postmortem tests show that the birds were killed by a form of reovirus," according to DEC Wildlife Pathologist Ward Stone. The particular strain of this illness attacks a bird's intestinal system and is spread through its fecal matter. "Winter provides prime conditions for spreading the virus, as crows concentrate in large roosts during the cold weather."
However, Stone stressed that the incidents were not a result of West Nile virus. "While the samples will also be tested by the NYS Health Department, this strain of reovirus is not likely to be contracted by humans," he said. Over the last decade, the National Wildlife Health Center has reported several strains of reovirus in various birds, especially the American woodcock. Officials in Ontario, Canada, also have noted its appearance there. "In the last few years, a small number of crows in New York were felled by a strain of the virus, but this winter marks the largest of those die-offs," Stone said.
People are advised to report any unusual bird mortalities to DEC Regional offices. Also, if disposing of dead birds, people should use rubber or plastic gloves, or a double plastic bag used as a glove.

DEC Releases 2007 Big Game Season Figures
New York hunters harvested approximately 220,000 deer in the 2007 season, a 16 percent increase over the previous season, according to the DEC. The 2007 take included 104,451 bucks and 114,690 antlerless deer. Buck takes grew by 8 percent over 2006 (96,569) and 17 percent over 2005 (89,015), suggesting that deer populations in many portions of New York are continuing to grow slowly. With the population increase, DEC has increased the number of Deer Management Permits (DMPs) issued in the last two years. The 2007 antlerless take increased 24 percent from 2006 (92,539) and 26 percent over 2005 (91,199). The muzzleloader take increased by 8 percent over the year before (15,746) and 11 percent over two years ago (15,232). New York's bowhunters also increased their take: 31,060 compared to 29,455 the previous year and 26,431 two years ago.
Western New York continues to lead the State in total deer-harvest densities. The top five counties for 2007 were Yates (12.8 total deer per square mile), Allegany (10.3), Wyoming (9.7), Ontario (9.7) and Genesee (9.6). Local county harvests were: Broome – 1,624 bucks/3,505 total; Chenango -- 2,815/5,242; Cortland – 1,155/2,435; Delaware – 3,399/4,995; Madison – 1,579/3,291; and Otsego – 2,603/4,682.
Statewide, hunters took 1,117 black bears, a significant increase over 2006 (796 bears). In the Allegany range, hunters took a record 120 bears, reflecting a slight increase over 2006 (113 bears). In the Catskill range, hunters took 453 bears, a significant increase over 2006 (365) although slightly less than the record (494 in 2005). In the Adirondack range, harvest numbers returned to normal after two consecutive down years. In 2007, 544 bears were taken in the Adirondack range compared to 318 in 2006. Overall, bear harvest statewide has steadily increased over the last two decades in correlation with a continuous rise in the bear population.