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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 !!