"City Janitors": The Birds That Clean and Mess Up the Streets

When we think of city cleaners, we usually imagine street sweepers or waste collectors. But nature has its own version—birds that scavenge and remove food scraps from the streets. In theory, they help keep the city clean. In practice, however, they sometimes do the opposite. That’s why I chose to name this series "City Janitors" with a bit of irony.

Ravens are the most notorious when it comes to this paradox. Highly intelligent and resourceful, they don’t just pick up what’s left behind—they actively dig through trash bins and containers, scattering rubbish all around in search of a meal. It’s fascinating to watch them work, pulling out plastic bags, flipping over food wrappers, and even learning to open container lids. What should be cleaning often turns into a chaotic mess.

Pigeons, on the other hand, take a different approach. They’re more passive, simply pecking at whatever they find on the ground—crumbs from a morning pastry, leftover fries, or seeds scattered by kind passersby. They don’t make a mess, but they certainly don’t clean up either. Instead, they exist as part of the city’s rhythm, blending into the background as they go about their endless search for food.

Despite the chaos they sometimes create, these birds are an undeniable part of urban life. They adapt, survive, and even thrive in an environment built for humans. Ravens use their intelligence to exploit the city’s waste system, while pigeons rely on their sheer numbers and persistence. Together, they form a strange and sometimes frustrating ecosystem of urban wildlife.

Photographing them has been an interesting experience. Capturing the contrast between their roles—the scavengers who clean but also litter—adds a deeper layer to what might otherwise seem like ordinary bird photography.

This photography school project made me look at city birds in a different way. They are both helpers and troublemakers, doing what they need to survive in an environment not designed for them. Whether we like them or not, they are as much a part of the city as its buildings, streets, and people.

What do you think? Are these birds more of a help or a nuisance? Let me know your thoughts!