Crows in Canada

Crows are part of Corvidae’s Corvus genus, which includes crows, ravens, and rooks. In everyday English, they are big, black birds. They appear on five of the seven continents. They have yet to find their way to South America, and Antarctica is too cold for them. However, this essay is only about crows in Canada.

Of about 45 different species in this genus, there are only 3 of them found in Canada. They are the northwestern crow, the American crow, and the common raven. There are many distinctions between crows and ravens, but two are very apparent.

First, ravens are much larger than crows, almost twice as big. And second, their calls are very different. A much higher-pitched caw caw caw is the crow’s call, while the raven has a much deeper kronk kronk kronk. For more detailed information about the differences, check out the informative YouTube video What Is the Difference Between a Raven and a Crow.

In Canada, where it lives all year round, the northwestern crow is exclusive to the coastal regions of British Columbia. Therefore, it is the northwestern crow that I am most familiar with on a day-to-day basis. The American crow lives across Canada but migrates south for the winter months. The common raven also inhabits most of Canada but does not leave for the winter.

Crow Food

Crows are omnivorous and eat anything from garbage to small rodents. For that reason, they frequently appear near garbage dumps, shopping malls, or fast-food restaurants. Many people think putting food out for birds is a good idea. Feeding seeds and grains can get some birds, especially smaller ones, through the winter. However, the offerings must be appropriate to the natural diet of the particular species.

It’s not necessary to put out food for crows. They are scavengers who spend most of their day searching for food. Because they eat virtually anything, they can always find something to eat. However, if you find it necessary to feed the crows, there are some things you should not give them.

***Crow Feeding with Help from the Neighbours***

Bread has no nutritional value at all for birds. The bread can become mouldy in a climate where it rains much of the winter, such as the west coast of Canada. It can swell up in their crops and ultimately lead to death. Chocolate is as toxic to birds as it is to dogs and cats and can kill them. Some table scraps can also be harmful and will only attract rodents.

Thousands of Crows

During months when crows are not breeding, they roost in communal settings. We can see crows returning by the thousands to roost in a treed area at dusk. The sky will be black as they approach the roosting area. It’s fascinating to see yet at the same time scary. Then, at dawn, they’re off again on their endless scavenging for food.

***Crows Returning to Roost for the Night***

Human residents living in or near such a popular roosting area are not happy with this giant influx of birds, especially on garbage day. When they put out the cans for weekly collection, the crows pick at what’s sticking out, often scattering garbage if the lids aren’t on tight. They also leave their droppings on patios, sundecks, and driveways for residents to clean up. Unfortunately, the droppings are very messy and can also carry disease.

Crow Storytime

About 12 years ago, a group from Australia purchased the casino where I worked. They brought in one of their own General Managers to add an Australian influence to this Canadian casino. Tim was a nice guy and seemed to be liked and respected by the local employees, so they took him out and brought in Matt.

Now, to avoid being replaced as well, Matt had to prove himself in this foreign position. He had to come up with something quickly. So he decided to make the casino smell nice by having vanilla, pina colada, or some other ice cream scent pumped throughout the casino. Many of you may be wondering, “What does this have to do with crows?” Be patient! The segue is coming.

Well, this scent thing was a total failure. It was much too overpowering, and many people complained. So, what could Matt’s legacy be? Wait for it! Crows! The casino is in the middle of a mega roosting area described above. Crows covered the employees’ rooftop parking lot—hundreds of crows. Crow droppings were everywhere, including on the employees’ cars. What a mess!

First, Matt brought in a guy with falcons to scare away the crows. It worked temporarily, but to have falcons on standby 24 hours a day would become very expensive, so that wouldn’t work. Finally, Matt came upon an ultrasonic bird and pest repeller, which worked like a charm. There are no more crows in the parking lot, the employees are happy, and Matt has his legacy.

However, Matt was soon gone anyway because Australia was done with us and sold us again. Except for once when someone tripped over an electric cord or something, the employees’ parking lot has been free of crows ever since.

Crows as Pets

Do crows make good pets? Probably not, but before we look at that, is it even legal to keep a crow as a pet? Well, for the crows we are discussing here, it’s not, at least not in Canada or the United States. Both countries have laws prohibiting the keeping of migratory birds for pets. So, if you could find a tame crow, which you probably can’t, would it make a good pet? Well, there are several things to consider.

These Are Pets - Wild Crows Are Not — ***These Are Pets – Wild Crows Are Not***

First, of all the possible creatures to consider for a pet, a bird would experience the most significant lifestyle change. Going from having free access to everything it sees soaring through the sky to restricting it to a cage would be more than it could bear. Second, crows, like humans, are social creatures. They have to be with their own kind. Many people would consider it cruel to keep a crow as a pet.

Crows are very intelligent and have to be able to challenge and amuse themselves. In the wild, the skies are the limit, so to speak. But, caged in your house, they can’t.

The best you can do is observe and offer safe treats such as peanuts or dry pet food to the birds in your local park. Crows can be friendly, although hesitant, with those that are friendly toward them.

Dive-Bombing Crows

So why would a crow want to dive-bomb some innocent person just walking down the street minding their own business? Crows breed in the spring, just like all other creatures in the wild. The males mature at about five years and females at about three years. They can have three to nine eggs in one nest, and they nest for anywhere from 20 to 40 days.

The nests, eggs, and hatchlings are well protected from most predators as the nests are high in the trees, and the parent birds defend them fiercely. However, when the fledglings first attempt to leave the nest, they cannot fly well enough to escape trouble. At this time, the parent birds become anxious, cautious, and aggressive.

A human may be unwittingly approaching the vicinity of one of these defenceless fledglings. The response from one of the parent birds is to attack or dive-bomb this innocent passerby. Crows are intelligent enough to recognize the same person the next time they walk by and attack them again just because of the previous incident. The time for the appearance of the fledglings and, thereby, these attacks is usually in May and June. Therefore, “Crows in Canada – Beware May and June”.

For Your Listening Enjoyment

And now for some music from Counting Crows. Here is their 2002 hit Big Yellow Taxi, which is only my second favourite interpretation of this song, with the Joni Mitchel version being my favourite.

The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.

Vocabulary

genus – noun; a kind or class having common characteristics; a scientific term for grouping similar animals, plants, etc.
distinctions – pl. noun; the fact of being different; differences
apparent – adjective; readily visible or perceivable; obvious
exclusive – adjective; not including; except for; only
migrate – intransitive verb; (of an animal, esp. a bird or fish) change its area of habitation with the seasons; generally flies south for the winter and north for the summer
omnivorous – adjective; feeding on many kinds of food, esp. on both plants and flesh; eats other animals and plants; whatever is available
appropriate – adjective; suitable or proper; proper
scavengers – pl. noun; (of an animal or bird) eats or searches for food in (garbage, etc.); a bird or animal that looks for food anywhere
nutritional – adjective; food for the proper functioning of the organism; food that’s good for you
crop – noun; the pouch in a bird’s gullet where food is prepared for digestion, where a bird digests its food
roost – intransitive verb; (of a bird) settle for rest or sleep; the way a bird sits or perches to sleep
communal – adjective; relating or belonging to a community; for common use; all together in one place
influx – noun; a flowing in of a substance, esp. in large quantities; so many crows moving into one place (in this context)
segue – noun; a smooth move from one thing or topic to another; a connection between two different topics
overpowering – adjective; make (a thing) ineffective or imperceptible by greater intensity; too strong or too much
ultrasonic – adjective; of or involving sound waves with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing; a high-pitched sound annoying to birds that people can’t hear
dive-bomb – transitive verb; (of a bird, insect, etc.) descend rapidly from a height to attack something; a bird attacking a person (in this context)
hatchlings – pl. noun; a bird or fish that has just hatched; a newly hatched bird (in this context)
fledglings – pl. noun; a young bird; a young bird barely able to fly
carnivorous – adjective; (of an animal) feeding on flesh; eats other animals only
herbivorous – adjective; (of an animal) feeding on plants; eats plants only

Comprehension Questions

How are crows and ravens different as stated in this article?
(a) beaks and tails, (b) haircuts and clothes, (c) accents and feet, or (d) size and calls
How many species of Corvidae’s Corvus genus are found in Canada?
(a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, or (d) 4
What are the species found in Canada?
Which species migrate south for the winter months?
Are crows (a) omnivorous, (b) carnivorous, or (c) herbivorous?
Should you put out bread for the birds in the winter?
Yes or No
Look at the picture “Crows Returning to Roost for the Night”. The general term for this many birds would be a flock of birds. However, for crows, there is a special word for this many crows. What is it?
(a) a bunch of crows, (b) a gang of crows (c) a murder of crows, or (d) a colony of crows
Do you like a public building should have a particular scent? If yes, what would be a pleasant scent?
Yes or No
Do you think a wild crow could be a good pet?
Yes or No
Have you ever been dive-bombed by a crow or any other kind of bird?
Yes or No

Answers