Inundated With Scavenger Birds!!

It's true!  It seems the crow and magpie population has grown exponentially here in Edmonton.  Neighbours are seen shewing them away from garbage set out to be collected, or yelling at them as they peck through the gardens.  Yesterday morning there were two magpies sitting atop our Young's Twisted Weeping Birch and another four on the fence!  I reached for my camera.  Batteries dead.  Replaced the batteries and when I returned, only two remained on the fence. 

Some friends said they were "attacked" by a magpie as it dive bombed them as they were walking by.  Apparently the bird had a nest nearby.  Has anyone else noticed an increase of crows and magpies?