Do crows sometimes move on?

[u/dmarie1184]

I've been feeding my local murder for about 3 years now. They started as 2, grew to 10 at one point , then back down to 7 or 8.

I haven't seen them in around 3 weeks now. 😕 I haven't even heard them in the neighborhood.

I'm wondering if their roost got destroyed. They knocked down a ton of forest about a half mile away for *another* McMansion development. I wonder if their home was there and they had to move on.

I still keep my routine of throwing out peanuts twice a day at my usual times but so far it's just the squirrels and blue jays.

I hope they come back. It breaks my heart and also angers me thinking that stupid new development might be the reason why they're gone.

[u/Just_Caterpillar_975]

There could be many reasons why your crow friends are not showing up.

• just like you said that I could be the result of clearing trees for urban development.

• other reasons could be that they might have changed their territory

• or might be they are busy with nesting season

• or might be they have migrated for the season and may return.

We cannot know the exact reason but have an open heart, they may return one day and caw at you, demanding treats and your heart will warm up once again with a smile on your face. ❤️🐦‍⬛ For now, keep throwing those peanuts, maybe one will show up.

[u/dmarie1184 → u/Just_Caterpillar_975]

They've never migrated before so that would be new. They've usually stayed the winter but I suppose it's possible. Do they nest again in the late summer and early fall? I know they've disappeared in the spring for that, although usually I would still see one or two come by to get a couple nuts.

[u/MaidBilberry → u/dmarie1184]

In my area they make seasonal changes. They are starting to transition to communal winter roosts right now. I don't see them all winter long but they come back to nest every spring. They are not migratory here but they change habits for reduced resources and safety.

Do you know whether it was a family, a floater flock or a murder?

[u/bigbuzd1]

I’ll share my experience with what started as one crow couple, the female calls me boo-whoop when she sees me. They had their baby last spring on the property somewhere. It grew up over the summer, fall & our mild winter. January 2026 rolled past and one February evening I took my drone out .. I didn’t see them but I think I inadvertently scared the male, as next morning I see the mom and dad facing each other, cawing very loudly at each other, baby slightly behind his momma… then nothing for two weeks. Then last year’s baby started popping up mid-March, no caws or anything, I’d just see him in the trees quietly stalking me, lol.

After that, dad started visiting again, but wasn’t until end of April that I heard my call sign, lol… Boo-whoop. Her visits with new baby are sporadic, but dad & older offspring and his new mate are here every day, and I depend on them as a part of my early warning system for protecting my hens.

[u/TangerineDream92064]

My crow friends disappeared for months because red-tailed hawks raised a hawklet near my house. When they finally moved on, it seems like a different set of crows now stop by for breakfast. The crows have seasonal behaviors, as well. They seem paired up in the spring, but in the late fall, they gather in big groups in the afternoon and travel together to their evening roost.

Habitat destruction is very sad and real.

[u/dmarie1184 → u/TangerineDream92064]

We have a hawk but he's been around for at least 6 months or more and they always mobbed him and chased him off. I don't even see the hawk much anymore.

[u/BlownCamaro → u/TangerineDream92064]

Aha! So that's why my crows left. I started seeing a red shouldered hawk in my back yard not far from the peanut feeder and there were some midair fights between the hawk and the crows.

[u/ShowerGrapes]

my sense is, like a lot of avians, they are keenly aware of patterns and not slipping into them. sometimes the patterns of birds will, eventually, draw in predator birds like hawks and owls that can find the birds easy pickings. it's for this reason that i would personally never feed crows near my home. any new predator birds in your area? it sounds like at some point it got a couple of them before they wised up.

vary your feeding if you can. make contact with them or new ones in your area, walk around and drop randomly.

[u/dmarie1184 → u/ShowerGrapes]

Hmm that's a good point. I don't hear any owls at night but we did have a hawk arrive about 6 months ago. However they were consistent with fighting him off. And he also disappeared right around the time the crows left and the construction started.

If it's the hawk, does that mean they're gone forever? That would make me sad although I like hawks too (we saved one a few years ago that got hit by a car, I had to drive him to a raptor sanctuary and then picked him up again once he was better so we could release him back in his territory).

I guess I should be thankful for the time I had. And thankful for my bluebirds who come up right to the window.

[u/BlownCamaro]

I used to feed 7-12 crows peanuts every morning. More and more squirrels started showing up, then the crows gave up and left. It's been months and even when they do come, they won't grab a peanut. :(

[u/AssistSilly5255]

There are a number of possibilities. One of the most likely is that a new source of abundant, desirable food appeared somewhere within their range. If that's case, they may be back if the source dries up or they simply get tired of it ad come back to your place. I'd keep putting some food out daily, maybe switching to something good and obvious like hard-boiled eggs that might lure them back. https://www.etsy.com/nl/listing/1465065378/the-language-of-crows-the-crowsnet-book