Common resident.

Despite its familiarity today, the Carrion Crow was in the past so heavily persecuted that at one time it was considered as a rare bird in Hertfordshire. No bird was more hated by Gamekeepers and Landowners than the Crow, and in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth Centuries attempts were made to wipe it out, it was systematically poisoned, trapped and shot, without success. Its numbers began to increase during the First World War and there was a dramatic rise in its numbers after the Second World War. Today they are found in all types of open country including woodland and urban areas with trees.

Foster (1914) recorded that the Carrion Crow was, “rare in the district. It is more frequently seen in winter, especially near the bigger woods, and is almost invariably noticed in pairs. Occasionally seen hanging up in keepers’ larders. Not known to nest. Near Stevenage occasionally”. One was seen at Stevenage on 19 November 1907. Sage (1959) recorded that they were scarce at Stevenage. An unsuccessful breeding attempt was made in Monkswood in 1969 and, they remained uncommon at Stevenage until around 1978.

A large flock of 130 birds (believed to be non-breeding birds) were seen on a Stevenage School Playing Field on 19 May 2010. Large numbers of Carrion Crows, Jackdaws and, Rooks also gather and roost in Fairlands Valley in the evenings. A post breeding flock of 40 juveniles was seen in Fairlands Valley I May 2012. A flock of 63 was also recorded from Stevenage on 3 September 2013.

Breeding was confirmed from four of Stevenage’s tetrads in the 1973 Breeding Atlas, from 11 in the 1992 Atlas and, from eight in the 2012 Atlas. 

Five nests were found in Fairlands Valley Park in 2020 and nine in 2021 and 2022.

They have successfully colonised the town and, are commonly found in all areas. They perform a useful service by scavenging discarded fast food and other refuse.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

At Watery Grove they were not recorded by, the Common Bird Census until 1977 when their presence was noted during the breeding season. In 1978 a single territory was held. They were not recorded again by the census until 1984 when a single territory was again held. Two territories were held in 1985, a single territory in 1987, and their presence noted in the 1986 and 1988 breeding seasons. From 1990 to 1996 single territories were held annually, and in 1997 and 1999 two territories were held, and three were held in 1998.