Nova Scotia Power says a crow is responsible for a big power outage affecting thousands of people in west-end Halifax.

The lights went out at 9:30 a.m. Friday. About 7,000 homes and businesses lost power at the peak, but by 11 a.m. that was down to 6,000.

A spokesman for Nova Scotia Power said the bird got into a transmission tower on Federal Avenue, causing a ripple effect that knocked out power in the area.

The power company expects electricity to be back on for all customers by 12:15 p.m.