Biosecurity is on their case in Southland, New Zealand as well …

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=505115434

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.

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 !!

What I would really like to know is - are there any established rookeries in the Cumbria area - I found quite a lot of rooks with their young in Ullswater yesterday - I was so excited to see my first juvenile rooks - begging loudly and being fed by the adults - but would love to see a massive gathering. I was amazed how alike to a crow the juveniles were - at what age do they develop the large grey beak? also are there any books anyone would recommend about crows - their behaviour and life cycle - as long as it isn’t too scientific!!

Thanks

 Gill

Any ideas on the above would be very gratefully recieved, thank you.

sam

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 !!

They are just a part of a drawing entitled “a rook leap year” based on direct study of birds in and around Bearpark, Co Durham.

The overall dimensions are approx 50 cm high by 366 cm long and the drawing comprises 366 squares.

Click on the thumbnails to see a larger version of several squares. I think you’ll agree, these images really capture the essence of the rooks pictured.

For further information, please feel free to contact John Foker.

The series will give a big picture of what seasons really are, what impact they have on our lives and the land which we inhabit. This major, blue chip series gets shows us the power of the seasons and their wide ranging effects on Britain and its people.

From cities to the countryside, a combination of stunning photography and real life stories will reveal how our world rotates through its yearly cycle and why we are inextricably linked to the changes we call The Seasons.

This landmark series will be presented by Alan Titchmarsh and due to air next September. It is a truly national project and will feature a wide range of locations, people and wildlife.

They are very interested in filming Alan near some rooks.

Do you know of a good place to film them near Alton in Hampshire? If so, please contact sarahbarber@tigeraspect.co.uk.

He completely rules the roost, putting the cats and dogs in their place and even having a go at the three peacocks!

Would love to hear from anyone else out there with a pet rook.

Jo Phillips

Update 7/12/08

There has only been one incidence of any interaction between Merlin and the wild rooks. In our garden [it being Rookery Farm] we have a pair of model plastic rooks, which have never attracted any interest from the wild rooks, nor very much from Merlin. One day back in September I heard a lot of cawing from a tree quite close to the house not normally frequented by rooks, Merlin became quite agitated, cawing quite frantically and then attacking a plastic rook viciously, climbing on its back [difficult as his feet kept slipping] and stabbing furiously at its head! The wild rooks went back to the rookery and have not attempted any further social interaction!

IBR

If you have a pet bird and are worried about it flying away and not being able to find its way back, it might be worth registering your bird with the IBR - £10 for 3 years cover. Your bird will be put on a database and will also receive a split telephone ring.

Letting your bird go

It will be very tricky dehumanising him if he is imprinted, if not impossible. Imprinted birds should under no circumstances be released.

• Firstly, it is against the law to release any imprinted animal, even wild ones. The penalty is a massive fine! We’re talking thousands!
• Secondly, it would most probably be a death sentence, a tame corvid would not last long once it started hanging around people for food or companionship, there are lots of people out there that hate corvids and will kill them if they catch them.

You will need to make a decision about his future. You could either take him to a rescue centre with others of his own kind, or you might decide to keep him youself, a big commitment, and one not to be taken lightly!

Update 20/1/09
When we came here 15 years ago we were told the terrible tale of how the baby rooks were shot out of their nests in rookery wood some time in the 60’s. The adults left and did not return for many years. When they did eventually return, they nested in the poplar trees to the west of the farmhouse and not in the wood.

At present, the main rookery continues to be located in the poplar trees with outlying nests around the garden, and usually one or two in the wood. I do not know how long there has been a rookery here, but judging by the fact that the house has always been known as Rookery Farm, The Rookery, or The Rookery Farm, and was originally built around 1700 probably a very long time indeed.

The wood is classified as ancient woodland and must have predated the farmhouse. I know arable farmers do not like rooks, but as someone with cattle and horses I regard them as the farmer’s friend. We like to make sure the pasture is grazed low in early spring and left to rest. The rooks come onto the land to feed and thoroughly cleanse the grass by eating worms and other parasites, and also harrow the droppings, saving us a job.

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)