Jim and others:

On 3 July, Jim Ha asked about s. Vancouver Island crow roosts:

We experience periodic shifts in roost sites here, probably as a result of
evening/night disturbances at favourite sites (shotguns, raccoons, campers,
etc.). However, usually dependable are Chatham/Discovery islands of the Oak
Bay-Ten Mile Point area. A evening staging area for this roost is Cattle
Point in Oak Bay. Recordings could be obtained here or on the islands.

If the Chatham roost has been disturbed, the birds head north up the Saanich
Peninsula, either to Portland Island, the s. end of Saltspring Is. or perhaps
one of the other small, unpopulated islands in that area. An evening watch
in August to Oct. from the n. end of the peninsula or from a boat should
reveal the "current" roost(s).

Some of the birds may not fly all the way to the n. end of the peninsula and
may remain at or near the Hartland Road "Landfill" (read "dump") in Saanich.
Worth a look.

There should be a roost or two near Duncan. Call Derrick Marven (604) 748-
8504 for current details.

As Michael Price indicates for the Vancouver area, we, too, have had a few
reports of possible American Crows (B. brachyrhychos) here in Victoria, but
none has been substantiated or accepted by our Records Committee. Certainly,
some "bigger" birds appear with, and some odd sounds are heard from, our
wintering NW crows, but we need more work by Jim and others to find out just
what we do have.

Bryan Gates, Victoria
bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca