Wow! The photos clearly show a Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix) rather than an Indian House Crow (C. splendens). The latter is a famed ship-rider and has colonized many far-flung seaports in this fashion. I certainly wouldn't automatically presume captive over natural (albeit ship-assisted) origins for Hooded Crow.
Shai Mitra ________________________________ From: bounce-37731909-11143...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-37731909-11143...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Rawshanks [falec...@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 4:49 PM To: NYSbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Hooded Crow - Great Kills Park, Staten Island 6/20 A Hooded Crow was seen and photographed by Seth Wollney (and later myself) yesterday (6/20) at the Crookes Point "fisherman's" parking lot at Great Kills Park on Staten Island. The bird was present until sundown yesterday, but has not been relocated as of this morning. Supposedly, the bird had been present for at least a few days prior and had been seen by some of the locals. There has been some discussion about the origin of the bird and whether or not it may constitute a legitimate wild individual or an escape. If anyone on this list could share some insight on the status of this bird in captivity, it would be helpful. Dick Veit and Shai Mitra have been contacted, and we are currently waiting for their input. I will post the pictures to the Staten Island Naturalist website later today (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sinaturalist). If anyone goes for the bird, be aware that Crooke's Point allows parking by permit only. You can park at the last paved lot and walk down the gravel road towards the "fisherman's" lot. Thanks. -Mike Shanley -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- ________________________________ Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only as of July 1, 2011<http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
