For years, a massive nightly "murder" of crows turned the skies over the University of Washington Bothell into a moving black cloud. Then, almost as quietly as they arrived, the birds shifted their evening roost a few miles away to the Sammamish Valley in Redmond. UW Bothell researchers and local birding groups traced the move, and the dusk ritual that once stopped students, birdwatchers and passing drivers in their tracks has mostly faded from campus life.
Annual counts at UW Bothell used to climb into the tens of thousands, topping out at roughly 20,000 birds in 2022 before the numbers fell off a cliff. By January 2025, the campus wetland was essentially empty of roosting crows, according to UW Bothell.
Where the Roost Landed
Researchers and reporters eventually tracked the flock to a new site in Redmond, only a short hop from the Bothell campus. As reported by Axios, the birds now gather in the Sammamish Valley Park area. Local Audubon volunteers say observers are spotting the flock along Willows Road near the golf course, according to Eastside Audubon.
Why Researchers Think the Crows Left
Doug Wacker, the UW Bothell scientist who led the long running crow counts, told KUOW there is no single smoking gun behind the departure. Instead, he points to a mix of factors: the maturing wetland habitat on campus, new residence halls and other construction, an influx of geese muscling into the area, and attractive, younger trees in nearby restoration projects that offer fresh real estate for the birds.
What It Means for Watchers and the Campus
The shift has essentially redrawn the map for crow fans. Bothell has lost a reliable public spectacle, and Redmond has gained one. Community groups and colleges have already started to pivot, with field watches and a lecture tied to the new roost showing up in local event postings earlier this year, according to event listings for the Redmond watch.
How to See Them Safely
For anyone planning a trip, local bird groups urge people to treat the roost like any other crowded event: watch from safe parking areas, bring binoculars instead of getting too close, and avoid blocking traffic or disturbing the birds. Eastside Audubon offers detailed viewing cautions, and Axios notes the new roost sits only a few miles from the Bothell campus, which makes it an easy evening outing for Eastside residents.
