A New Look at a Familiar Neighbour

In New Westminster, BC, crows are part of the daily soundtrack. They gather on rooftops, patrol sidewalks, and seem to know more than they let on. For long-time New Westminster resident and author Robert Butler, they have been a lifelong fascination. His new book, Society of Crows, invites readers to see these familiar birds in a whole new way. Part memoir, part science story, and part love letter to nature, the book shows how much is happening right outside the front door.

Rob’s connection to crows began when he was a kid with a pet crow at home. Years later, that curiosity led him to university, then to a remote coastal island with his wife, where he studied crows for his master’s degree.

There were no cell phones. No easy contact. Just two people, an island, and a lot of crows.

That early work became the start of a 50-year journey. Rob went on to become a scientist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, studying birds across the coast and beyond. Yet crows stayed close. During the COVID lockdown, he began walking through his New Westminster neighbourhood and tracking local nests.

What he found was more than bird behaviour. It was drama, strategy, family life, and survival.

Society of Crows is written for regular readers, not only scientists. Rob explains complex behaviour in a way that feels clear and easy to follow.

The book explores how crows protect their nests, steal eggs, form bonds, and even work together in groups. “The crow is kind of that gateway to nature,” Rob said. Once people notice them, they start noticing everything else too.

Rob also created the book’s black-and-white illustrations himself. That mix of science and art gives the book a personal feel. It is not just research. It is the story of a life spent watching closely.

Why Crows Capture New Westminster’s Attention

Rob says the way people see crows has changed. When he first studied them, many people disliked them. Today, audiences pack theatres to hear his talk, The Society of Crows.

His talks have sold out in communities across BC. Some have drawn hundreds of people. Afterward, people line up to share their own crow stories.

That does not surprise Rob. Crows live beside us. They recognize people. They raise families nearby. They are clever, social, and sometimes surprising. “Everybody has a story,” he said.

In New Westminster, that connection feels especially strong. Rob lives here, and some of the book’s observations come from local streets and nests.

A New West Author With Deep Local Roots

Rob was born and raised in North Vancouver, but his New Westminster ties go back generations. His family connection reaches back to the Royal Engineers. His father once ran Butler Tire on Columbia Street, and his great-great-great-grandfather helped build St. Mary’s Church.

That history gives this book another layer. It is not only about coastal crows. It is also about a New Westminster author paying attention to the wildlife woven into city life.

Rob’s work reminds readers that nature is not somewhere far away. It is here, in the trees, on the power lines, and around the corner.

Where to Find the Book

From local science to remarkable storytelling, Robert Butler’s Society of Crows invites New Westminster readers to look up and look closer.

The book is available through Rob’s website, Amazon, Friesen Press, and the Backyard Bird Store in Port Moody. Local New Westminster readers may also be able to arrange a signed copy through Rob directly.

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