rooks.org.uk

Scientists at Cambridge University have just published findings that suggest one of Aesop’s fables could really be true. A thirsty crow drops stones into a vessel to raise the water level enough to get a drink. Christopher Bird and Nathan Emery performed an experiment using four captive rooks, using a floating worm to tempt the rooks to drop stones into the vessel.

All four rooks solved the problem, and showed an appreciation of the number of stones required. They also learned to pick larger stones over smaller ones, and that the same trick wouldn’t work with a worm floating on sawdust. The details are available at sciencedirect.com.

Many thanks to Clare from New Zealand for sending this in …

This Rookery must be almost as old as the trees the Rooks roost in. The present farmer shoots Pheasants & Rabbits - but never Rooks. He believes secretly that the Rookery brings him luck, and although in a bad year it may be reduced to three or four pairs – still the chain stretches back as far as his Ancestors … and not a link has been broken.

The Rooks add to the exuberance of spring and 20 metres up in the top most fork of the trees, old nests are being fortified, and new ones built by the three year old Rooks who have mated for the first time. The Nests are deep & bulky for they are laid on the foundations of several older Nests. It is alive with insects, grubs, Beetles and small flies which the Rooks Chicks will eat when they hatch out. However Rook Nests are not very durable,
as they do not build a mud lining on top of the twigs & sticks like Crows & Magpies. The property of each is the responsibility of all – this is one of the rules of the Rookery.

The females lay one egg a day until there are five. They are a dull turquoise colour with ash grey & brown blotches. It takes 16 to 18 days for an egg to develop into a Rook, and all this time the females are dependant on their mates for food which they carry in their throat pouch. It is important for the eggs to hatch at the same time – for a late arrival has little chance to survive … and High Winds are also deadly resulting in Egg Chilling or Collapsed Nests – with eggs just ready to hatch being lost. In fact, the odds are stacked heavily against them …. Four out of five Rook Chicks will probably die in the first six months of life from accident, starvation or disease.

The female broods them for at least 10 days, and the Male Rook roosts on a perch nearby. He cleans the nest removing the droppings (which are enclosed in membrane) in his throat pouch … and returns with worms, grubs, blowfly lavae & leatherjackets for the entire family. The female Rook feeds her young before herself, but the Male Rooks risk starvation … for they grow very thin with their efforts to provide for their families.

A Hawk approaches & circles the trees, but the Sentinel Rooks rise from their lookout positions to mob him … driving him off with flaps & angry cries.
The Rook Chicks are now over a month old; and partly fledged. As their flight feathers are developing, they are strong enough to leave the nest & sidle along a branch where they balance exercising their wings. – One false move & the Rook Chick will die quickly from the fall. Even if he miraculously survives – he still needs to be fed every four hours.

At forty days the Rook Chicks are fully grown, and ready to make their first short floppy flights. A breezy day is chosen for take-off; and a lot of squawking is heard and urging from anxious parents. They soon accompany their parents on short foraging expeditions, but will not be completely independent until they are five months old.

It is moulting season & extra supplies of food are required for Survival … The Rooks really feel the pinch – for the ground is baked so hard that they cannot probe it with their bills. A long hot Summer is as deadly as the depths of Winter to them. The Rook Scouts cover great distances in their search for food … it may be a journey of 30 kilometres there & back, but it will save the life of the Rookery this Summer.

On one fine morning – the grass appears to be Black with Rooks as a “Rook’s Parliament” is about to take place. … The Accused Rook hobbles about in the centre - making no attempt to fly even when he is pecked at by those familiar to him. The Rooks instinct to kill a sick or ailing Bird is one of Self-Preservation for the Rookery itself …. the penalty being Death !!

Rooks use live Ants to clean their feathers; pushing them under their wings to retrieve minute parasites and feather lice. The Rooks enjoy a bath in the Cattle Trough, but hate being damp, as they quickly lose their body heat. This is one of the reasons why they do not feed in long grass – preferring Open Grazed Pasture instead.

Rooks can foretell danger and after a Wet Windy Storm one day, the Rooks suddenly desert their Rookery – they all rise together and clatter out across the fields out of sight to safety. - This is known as an Outflight or Dread.

…. Suddenly on the Farm …. a Large Fir Tree collapses to the ground with a Thundering Crash. In the distance after a time - the Scouts make their report back to the other Rooks. … The Tree is now down, the Farm is quiet .. and the Danger has past.

So on one breezy afternoon, the Rooks all make their way back to the Rookery playing around in the breeze and their jubilant cries are heard once again … much to the Farmer’s relief and delight ….. for had the Rooks not returned – he feared his luck would have gone with them !!

Life at The Rookery by Clare in NZ

I love life in the Rangitikei – it‘s a great place to come home to!!

The yearn to live rural again crept up on me in 2006 … and I came to view this property out of curiosity; solely because of its great location.

The Rangitikei has some fantastic uninterrupted panoramic views … and I walked inside this home and was immediately drawn to the breathtaking view of the kitchen window … and knew in an instant that I would live here. I have named this place “The Rookery”.

Perched at the top of the Kakariki Hill at Greatford; the views are simply breathtaking … some of the Rangitikei’s finest. It is a busy metropolis where man meets nature … and this Rangitikei rural landscape changes constantly.

With the backdrop of State Highway One, and the hubbub of the Halcombe/Feilding Road … life is never dull !!

Whilst cows graze lazily in the paddocks - gravel trucks, livestock trucks, horse floats and farm vehicles roll on by; and helicopters from Ohakea frequently fly directly overhead. At night, delivery trucks drive along this road all lit up like Xmas trees; each truck displaying its own unique set of lights.

However, as the night quietens - the stars come out in their brilliant display, and shooting stars are often seen ….. as a peaceful rural silence takes over. The sunsets and full moons are a sight to behold; and often when it rains a double rainbow often appears across the paddocks.

This Rangitikei rural view also holds some hidden treasures; as it is enfolded in nature…. like the sweet sounds of the skylarks in full song. Only this morning, my window revealed five hares all frolicking about in the paddock next door. Two of the jack hares put on a grand display …… and were unphased by a family of magpies.

All of nature seems to get along.

In heavy rain, the creek fills up, and I marvel at my window view watching the ducks swimming downstream with their ducklings.

“The Rookery” is of course all about rooks ……..The large black crows whom most New Zealanders have never seen … and do not know exist in this country.

Rooks are from the Corvidae species of birds – the most intelligent on the planet. Their brain to body ratio equals that of dolphins and almost humans. These birds are so clever and intelligent that scientists are now beginning to question: “Are Corvids really feathered Apes?”

The foyer at The Rookery plays host to many dormant rooks, all gazing down from their photos mounted on the walls. The house is also kept guard by its resident Soot, who likes
to be on sentry duty … eyeballing all visitors who enter and then leave the property.

At The Rookery the welfare of one seems to be the responsibility of all, so many alarm calls are sounded when other menagerie members feel a need to voice a concern.

There is much to occupy Soot’s day from watching the rooster and hens pecking, scratching and free-ranging about …….. to imitating the bark of my boisterous Pomeranian dog K.C. - with such exact precision that on any given day - you are never sure who is barking !!

Rook is also the very best of friends with a black rabbit named Nugget, and Sarn the Shetland sheepdog often sounds off a friendly bark of approval for Soot too.

At The Rookery the two resident goats Hebe and Phoebe are often very naughty … and like to jump on top of the chicken run, as well as the bee hives in the hope of plucking some apricot or willow tree leaves. It is fortunate that the bees are friendly and do not take offence to this invasion of privacy.

Blackie and Ebony, my pet sheep, also like to play chase with the goats - and they all clown around; kicking their feet up into the air and thumping down the side of the house for the pure joy of it. This commotion soon gets Soot’s attention, who responds with a loud commentary of her own.

This year’s addition to The Rookery menagerie is the late Bessie Fullerton-Smith’s cat Fluff who has decided that she is boss of all she surveys … and alarm squawks surface whenever she appears too close to Soot’s private space.

The State Highway One traffic is also a complete fascination to Soot, and any trucks that pass by too noisily get a scolding call!!

Soot has a love of Weetbix, and should breakfast be late - further scolding calls are sounded that can almost re-arrange your eardrums !!

At the weekend, the stillness of Rangitikei rural life takes over, and some evenings are so quiet and still that the peace of the rural landscape enwraps your soul with pure content. … It’s a fascinating place to be ……. with a charm all of its own, …………a fascinating window of Rangitikei rural life !!

Abstract

The study was conducted to see if the Rooks behaviour changes as the breeding season approaches. The ecology of the Rook was researched to decipher which aspects of its behaviour could be used in the field to test the hypothesis. Rooks utilise different food resources throughout the year dependent on factors such as its breeding season. Rooks are a monogamous species, where both the female and male contribute to the success of the offspring. They are social birds often found foraging and nesting together with Jackdaws. The results showed there were significant differences in behaviour as the breeding season approached. Moreover, there were observed but untested data which also support the hypothesis. Following the study further interesting behaviours were observed which can lead to further studies.

Read the whole project (PDF)

Rooks in New Zealand are being eradicated using DRC 1339 poison. Regional councils throughout New Zealand are poisoning rooks in droves.

They use Helicopter Poisoning Operations to drop DRC 1339 poison into the rook nests with sticky poisoned vaseline during the breeding season and the birds take 1 to 3 days to die after preening themselves.

Toxins build up to a lethal level with the kidneys no longer able to excrete waste products and the birds die from uremic poisoning.

• DRC 1339 Poison is also laid on the ground using poisoned bread bait lines.
• DRC 1339 is toxic to poultry.
• Livestock and pets are also at risk from eating the poisoned bait.
• Most dead rooks are found near their rookeries or near water; however in midsummer … some rooks are found dead 20kms from their rookeries.
• DRC 1339 is toxic to fish and water invertebrates.
• Some plant species are also affected by DRC 1339 Poison.
• DRC 1339 is only to be used when serious and sustained crop damage has occurred, which cannot be alleviated by other means.
• However, in New Zealand Rookeries are being poisoned simply because they are there!!
• DRC 1339 is corrosive to the skin and eyes and in a June 2008 warning is “acutely toxic”.

Can you help to save the rooks??
Email rookery@xtra.co.nz for further information as soon as possible.

Rooks were introduced to New Zealand by settling farmers, to help control the insects in their crops. They are beneficial to farmers, and are causing no harm.

Update 12/1/09
Many thanks to everyone who’s been in touch concerning this. There is some really good news to report - the original submission to Horizons has left them going back to the drawing board to review their Pest Management Policy.

Also, at the hearing, there is now more information to include, thanks to the community here at rooks.org.uk.

There’s still plenty to do, though, so do please contact Clare if you can help in any way:
rookery@xtra.co.nz

The East of England boasts one of nature’s most remarkable sights. Up to 80,000 rooks gather at a wood in Norfolk, making this the biggest rookery in Britain - maybe even the world. Every morning and evening the birds fly in and out of the rookery en masse, making it an incredible spectacle.

The RSPB has requested we remove details of the whereabouts of the roost, since there is not the local infrastructure for large numbers of visitors.

Gamekeeper of the estate Joe Callum keeps an eye on the rookery.

“They just belong here,” he says. “They’re even mentioned in Doomsday Book.”

Rooks belong to the corvid family which also includes crows, ravens, magpies, jackdaws, and jays. Characterised by a bare, greyish-white face, thinner beak and peaked head. These birds have a cawing ‘kaah’ call.

Rooks are very sociable birds. They feed and roost in flocks in winter. The rook is the only species of crow to nest colonially in rookeries. These structures are home to an extended family of rooks for about six months of the year.

The size of a rookery is often dictated by the availability of food nearby - rooks rely on invertebrates and healthy worm populations on the farmland around them.

According to Norfolk based Mark Cocker, author of Birds Britannica, numbers of rooks are increasing, and the birds have no natural predator. But they don’t have the best reputation.

“Well it’s a very beautiful scene when they all fly. The birds gather every day to sleep in roost for protection, the mass resolves and they all fly as one organism,” says Mark Cocker. “Hitchcock has a lot to answer for. Black is the colour of evil … so they are often seen as omens of doom.”

Jennifer Westwood, an author and expert on superstition and folklore who lives in South Norfolk, explains why rooks feature heavily in folklore:

“They are mysterious because they are so clever. Folklore suggests they are the cleverest bird. In some countries it was suggested they sat in circles or parliaments, and debated. In East Anglia it’s considered very lucky to have them near your house, and if they go then it’s a bad sign - the family is about to fall on bad times.”

But local farmer Richard Hurst from Ormsby isn’t a fan. He is aware that their numbers are on the increase and he says they lay waste to about 35 per cent of all his seed crops, and eat sky lark chicks. He arranges for the birds to be shot to keep the numbers down.

Whatever your view, rooks are fascinating creatures. Professor Nicky Clayton at Cambridge University has been studying the birds for some years:

“The reason we’re interested in rooks is because they are highly intelligent, highly social and it’s often thought that our type of brain is key to high intelligence. We’re finding they have a completely different type of brain that gives different but still high intelligence. That’s exciting for all kinds of reasons. These studies have found that some corvids are not only superior in intelligence to birds of other avian species (perhaps with the exception of some parrots), but also rival many nonhuman primates.”

Increasingly, scientists agree that it isn’t physical need that makes an animal smart, but social necessity. Group living tends to be a complicated business so for individuals to prosper, they need to understand exactly what’s going on. So highly social creatures like dolphins, chimps, and humans tend to be large-brained and intelligent.

Like apes, many birds employ tools to gather food, but it isn’t clear whether birds like rooks appreciate how these tools work. It may be that they simply discover their usefulness by accident. One thing is clear - these birds are amongst the brainiest of our avian population.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/east/series9/week_nine.shtml

The Rook is one of our most familiar and widespread birds. With nearly one million pairs in Britain, it is only absent from upland areas and from treeless islands off the west coast of Scotland, though it has been able to find suitable trees to nest on Shetland and on Lewis in the Western Isles …

Visit Birds of Britain for more information

The study was carried out in 2000–2002 around 6 rookeries. Rooks foraged in numbers from 1 to 132 birds (n = 417); flocks of less than 10 individuals were dominant. The type of crop influenced the size of a foraging flock. Most of the rooks were recorded within 0.5–1 km of the rookery, while the greatest distance of a foraging ground from the rookery (x– = 2833.3 m) depended on the size of that rookery. Spring corn, meadows and pastureland were of the greatest significance in the rooks’ foraging area. Winter corn and root crops were avoided, while wasteland areas were visited intermittently.

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Protect the birds or reduce the bird strike rate>

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In a free living rook (Corvus frugilegus) a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma without keratinization arising from the oesophageal mucosa was found. This tumour had grown around the right main bronchus and so caused marked respiratory distress.

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