American Crow

The adaptable American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) thrives in urban environments, including the Sausal Creek Watershed. With their intelligence and scavenging behavior, they are common residents, foraging on the ground, in trees and trash. Since 2000, there has been a 1,100% increase in observable crows in Oakland, causing concerns over increased bird waste in urban areas. The crow's presence is especially noticeable in winter when they congregate in roosts on trees and buildings for warmth and protection. Recently, the City of Oakland has experimented with using trained hawk intervention to deter crows from roosting in urban environments.