If you乌鸦传媒檝e felt a rush of wind over your head or heard the angry caw of a crow lately, you乌鸦传媒檙e not alone.
The annual wave of dive-bombing crows is back in full force, and it乌鸦传媒檚 not personal 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 parenting.
Each spring, typically from April through July, crows enter their nesting season. That乌鸦传媒檚 when adult birds become hyper-vigilant, fiercely protective of their vulnerable chicks. And that乌鸦传媒檚 when unsuspecting pedestrians can become targets, especially if they unknowingly wander too close to a nest.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e fantastic parents, but they乌鸦传媒檙e very anxious ones,乌鸦传媒� Nadia Xenakis, a specialist in wild animal welfare with the BC SPCA said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey don乌鸦传媒檛 know the difference between a human, a dog, or an eagle. They just see a threat to their babies and want it gone.乌鸦传媒�
That explains the sudden swoops and startling brushes against heads downtown.
It乌鸦传媒檚 not aggression for aggression乌鸦传媒檚 sake 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 defence. Most swoops are simply warnings to keep moving, but if someone lingers too long, the crow may escalate to physical contact.
乌鸦传媒淭he biggest thing is: don乌鸦传媒檛 stop,乌鸦传媒� Xenakis said. 乌鸦传媒淜eep walking and get out of the area. Most people panic, freeze, and try to figure out what乌鸦传媒檚 happening 乌鸦传媒� but now they乌鸦传媒檝e become a stationary threat.乌鸦传媒�
Xenakis also recommends taking a different route entirely if you know you乌鸦传媒檙e approaching a nesting hotspot. Wearing a hat, carrying an umbrella, or even wearing your hat backwards can help by creating a physical barrier between you and any particularly insistent crows.
乌鸦传媒淚f it gives you peace of mind and prevents contact, I totally recommend it,乌鸦传媒� Xenakis said. 乌鸦传媒淓ven if the crow makes contact, it乌鸦传媒檒l hit the umbrella or the hat, not you.乌鸦传媒�
You can also use, an online map that tracks dive-bombing incidents throughout the city. Users can report encounters and view existing hotspots 乌鸦传媒� a useful tool for planning your walk or warning others.
While crows may be the loudest offenders, they乌鸦传媒檙e not the only protective parents in town.
Xenakis said geese, too, are on high alert near waterways this time of year.
But unlike mobile goslings that follow their parents shortly after birth, baby crows 乌鸦传媒� called fledglings 乌鸦传媒� often end up on the ground during their early flying lessons. That can spark a different kind of human-crow conflict.
乌鸦传媒淧eople sometimes try to 乌鸦传媒榬escue乌鸦传媒� fledglings, but unless they乌鸦传媒檙e injured or clearly in distress, they乌鸦传媒檙e usually fine,乌鸦传媒� Xenakis said. 乌鸦传媒淭heir parents are nearby, still feeding and watching them. The best thing you can do is give them space.乌鸦传媒�
Dog owners should also be aware. An off-leash pup bounding up to a nesting tree might not know better, but the crows sure do. Xenakis encourages keeping dogs leashed and moving quickly through active nesting areas to avoid triggering a defensive response.
乌鸦传媒淯ltimately, this isn乌鸦传媒檛 about angry birds,乌鸦传媒� Xenakis said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about protective parents. If we respect that and give them room, we can all get through nesting season without incident.乌鸦传媒�