Every evening in Vancouver, thousands of crows fill sky in a hauntingly beautiful ritual. From every corner of the city they converge into restless black clouds, flying eastward toward a communal roost. What at first feels apocalyptic, reveals itself as one of the city’s most remarkable natural spectacles and serves as a reminder that even in dense urban cities, nature continues to adapt, thrive, and surprise us.

Growing up in Toronto, I had not really noticed the crows – they were there, but most noticeable in the fall set against my favorite backdrop of a northern Ontario pumpkin patch, and rarely overwhelming in numbers. Since moving to Vancouver five years ago, they have become impossible to miss. Here, the sheer abundance of crows is striking, and they definitely make it a point to let you know of their presence. 

The large crow population in Vancouver is a result of a few factors, but mostly the Pacific Northwest’s temperate climate that allows them to thrive year-round. In comparison, cities in Ontario for instance, see a large number of birds migrate south for the winter, and that includes crows. Besides their unmistakable caws (which are both loud and common), it’s their nightly roost in Vancouver that truly defines them in this city. What feels almost apocalyptic seeing thousands of black birds filling the sky at dusk has become something I’ve grown to love. This nightly spectacle is spooky, yes, but also is a powerful reminder of how nature is both present and connected, but also adaptive and resilient in our cities. 

What happens every day in Vancouver during the Burnaby roost? 

Every day at dusk and dawn crows from all across British Columbia’s lower mainland cover the sky, as they embark on a journey to Burnaby to “roost”- the behavior of communal settling down to rest, particularly at night. Their flight pattern ebbs and flows, where at moments the sky feels almost empty but then suddenly it bursts with large waves of black birds traveling from all directions forming restless black clouds. 

The roosting area for Vancouver’s crows is by Still Creek, a large urban stream in Burnaby, a city just east of Vancouver. Each night, this area sees upwards of 10,000 crows, affording the returning birds a safe place to rest together. Each sunrise, the birds disperse and venture back to their daytime locations in search of food. 

Why do crows roost? 

There are a number of explanations for why crows roost in large communal groups. Crows are known for their intelligence and adaptability, and are exceptionally social creatures. They gather in large groups every night primarily for socialization and safety. For instance, roosting serves as a collective defense against predators like owls (especially at night while they are most vulnerable) – there is safety in numbers after all. 

Roosting also helps crows conserve body heat during the winter months and fosters a social hub to help them find a mate and share information (e.g., food sources, dangers, predators, etc). Fun fact: crows are also known to have facial recognition for humans. Crows are able to identify humans who have wronged them and remember their faces for years. This is another example of the information shared with other crows while they roost, thus creating a collective network of identified threats. 

The fascinating role of crows in our urban environment

Did you know that crows are known as “good citizens?” This is because of their scavenging habits, which helps to keep our cities and ecosystems clean, as these omnivores feed on roadkill and the animal carcasses found in urban areas. In addition, crows also serve other important ecological functions. Not only do these birds play a role in seed dispersal and ecosystem renewal, but they also consume large numbers of insects typically known as pests. 

While many urban wildlife species have been forced out of cities, crow populations have actually expanded with human development, and have demonstrated a social complexity and ability to problem solve that is comparable to humans. By using tools and learning from collective experiences, their intelligence allows them to adapt and thrive even in dense and human-centric environments. 

So next time a crow caws from a lamppost, or you see their dark clouds gathering at dusk, remember – this is part of a larger story unfolding, a reminder that even in the densest areas of the city, nature is still very much alive. 

Like what you’re reading? Sign up for NET’s mailing list to receive updates on all things biodiversity.