PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 28, 2026
To some, the ubiquitous crow is a noisy nuisance. To others, it’s a bad omen, a sign of death. But to many Mainers, crows are friends. Across the state, people have spent years — and a lot of food — building friendships with crows. Especially in the winter, when crows gather in large roosts, crow photos and stories inundate some social media groups. When thousands of crows darken the sky as the last remaining daylight fades and the cacophony of caws pierces the peaceful silence of dusk, it is hard not to look up with awe and maybe a shiver of trepidation. This spectacle occurs in the winter, when crows gather in large murders. After foraging all day in all directions, they come together at dusk to spend the night. Sleeping together helps protect them from frigid temperatures and predators like hawks. And although it has yet to be proven, some documentation also shows that crows may also communicate with each other in their roosts.