If you’ve felt a rush of wind over your head or heard the angry caw of a crow lately, you’re not alone.
The annual wave of dive-bombing crows is back in full force, and it’s not personal – it’s parenting.
Each spring, typically from April through July, crows enter their nesting season. That’s when adult birds become hyper-vigilant, fiercely protective of their vulnerable chicks. And that’s when unsuspecting pedestrians can become targets, especially if they unknowingly wander too close to a nest.
“They’re fantastic parents, but they’re very anxious ones,” Nadia Xenakis, a specialist in wild animal welfare with the BC SPCA said. “They don’t know the difference between a human, a dog, or an eagle. They just see a threat to their babies and want it gone.”
That explains the sudden swoops and startling brushes against heads downtown.
It’s not aggression for aggression’s sake – it’s defence. Most swoops are simply warnings to keep moving, but if someone lingers too long, the crow may escalate to physical contact.
Some of the most active swooping spots in Victoria include Blanshard and Broughton, View and Vancouver, and Fisgard and Douglas – all central downtown intersections. If you frequent those areas, a little precaution goes a long way.
“The biggest thing is: don’t stop,” Xenakis said. “Keep walking and get out of the area. Most people panic, freeze, and try to figure out what’s happening – but now they’ve become a stationary threat.”
Xenakis also recommends taking a different route entirely if you know you’re 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.
“If it gives you peace of mind and prevents contact, I totally recommend it,” Xenakis said. “Even if the crow makes contact, it’ll hit the umbrella or the hat, not you.”
You can also use CrowTrax, an online map that tracks dive-bombing incidents throughout the city. Users can report encounters and view existing hotspots – a useful tool for planning your walk or warning others.
While crows may be the loudest offenders, they’re 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 – called fledglings – often end up on the ground during their early flying lessons. That can spark a different kind of human-crow conflict.
“People sometimes try to ‘rescue’ fledglings, but unless they’re injured or clearly in distress, they’re usually fine,” Xenakis said. “Their parents are nearby, still feeding and watching them. The best thing you can do is give them space.”
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.
“Ultimately, this isn’t about angry birds,” Xenakis said. “It’s about protective parents. If we respect that and give them room, we can all get through nesting season without incident.”
