Starbuck Island, a land mass that lies on the Hudson River between Troy and Green Island, was the chosen spot for many years for thousands of crows to roost before their migration south. But now that the island has been taken over by a luxury apartment development, a "murder" of about 10,500 crows were left looking for a new spot. They chose Troy, which in December became a loud and poop-drenched battlefield between residents who want the crows to stay, and those who want them to be humanely pushed out. 

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Katie Kiessling dicusses the saga of the crows of Troy.

Also on this episode, we'll talk about a 28-year-old cold case that found a resolution this month.

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Actor and performer Mandy Patinkin is traveling the country performing a lineup of Broadway and American tunes that he says make him feel alive, after three dark years of a pandemic. The Tony- and Emmy-winner joins us on this episode of "The Eagle" to talk about work, social media success and his show, coming to Proctors Theater in Schenectady in February.

Also on this episode, we'll hear more of our deep dive into the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker 15 years ago.

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Two years ago, the Times Union set up a team of reporters to tackle trending topics, like why it was hard to find a Christmas tree this year, or why mechanics dread ice storms. Our readers devoured these quick-hit stories, and they swiftly became some of our most popular content. The reporter behind much of this team's success was Pete DeMola. 

On this episode, we'll say farewell to DeMola, and take a look back at some of the rapid response team's most impactful stories.

Also on this episode, we'll hear a segment from the Times Union's newest podcast series "Rainwalker: The Lost Boy," which explores one of the Capital Region's most famous unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker.

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Police ramped up their search this week for a 14-year-old girl who went missing more than 6 weeks ago from a park in Schenectady. The warmer weather made it possible for divers to enter the nearby Mohawk river to search for the teen, whom police believe may have been the victim of foul play. 

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Paul Nelson goes over the latest details in the search for Samantha Humphrey.

Also on this episode, Capitol Bureau reporter Raga Justin discusses Governor Kathy Hochul's plan to tackle the opioid epidemic in New York. 

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Retiring editorial eage editor Jay Jochnowitz has seen and done a lot during his 35-year career at the Times Union. From his days as the City Hall beat reporter to his tenure as Capital Bureau Chief, he has told some of the region's most important stories. Then, he found his stride as Editorial Page Editor, when he wrote one of the paper's most groundbreaking editorials calling for members of the Electoral College to reject former President Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Jochnowitz takes a look back at his career, and a look ahead to what's next. 

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A nationwide "tridemic" is causing a shortage of over-the-counter medications for children. High rates of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 are behind the scarcity that has left shelves empty in grocery stores and pharmacies, and left many parents desperate for ways to bring their kids' fevers down. 

On this episode of "The Eagle," Kristi Gustafson Barlette shares what she learned about the shortage, and the impact that it has had on New York's Capital Region.

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In early December, a 59-year-old man was found dead in the room he rented at a house in Rock Hill, New York. The police and emergency responders who arrived on the scene after a 911 call from his housemate found no evidence of foul play. But there was something unsual about this case. The dead man had no identification, save a few pieces of mail among his posessions addressed to Robert Hoagland - a man who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances 9 years ago, nearly 100 miles away in Connecticut. 

On this episode of "The Eagle," the Times Union's Phillip Pantuso talks about what we know so far of this bizarre story, which has baffled everyone from police to the man's family, and to the housemate who called him a best friend for the better part of the last decade.

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Do you think you're bad at math? Or wonder why you didn't do very well in physics class? The reason might be that you didn't get a chance to develop a teachable set of skills called spatial reasoning. On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll talk about an effort by a team at Siena College to incorporate spatial reasoning into STEM classes.

Also on this episode, we'll get the latest on the status of several major film and television projects shot in the Capital Region during the last two years, including the second season of HBO's "The Gilded Age," "White House Plumbers," starring Woody Harrelson and "Mother's Milk," starring Hilary Swank.

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There's a small but growing movement in New York pushing to legalize psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of the recreational drug commonly referred to as magic mushrooms. The psychedelic fungi are illegal in most states, but research is starting to show there may be some mental and physical health benefits to taking them in a prescribed way.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union health reporter Rachel Silberstein talks about the potential medicinal uses of psilocybin, and who is behind the push to decriminalize it. Also on this episode, reporter Abigail Rubel takes us back to driver's ed, explaining the nuances of the four-way stop.

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The migration of people to the United States has played an important role in the the country's development over the last 400 years. University at Albany history professor Carl Bon Tempo has co-authored a comprehensive history of immigration to America, and the impact it has had on government, the economy, and culture. On this episode of "The Eagle," we spoke to Bon Tempo about his book and the impact of immigration on American history.

Also on this episode, we talk to Moira Penza, lead prosecutor in NXIVM founder Keith Raniere's trial, about her reflections on the case, and the conclusion of the HBO series "The Vow."

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