One pair (only) of rooks nesting in our garden... why?

A pair of rooks are building a nest at the top of a copper beech tree in our garden. 

There are no other suitable trees in the immediate vicinity, but there is a big rookery half a mile away.

Am interested to know the possible reasons why these normally very social birds are going it alone?

Thanks 

  • Sorry no one has replied. Quiet community these days, but I also suspect very few people have experience of rooks nesting in their gardens. In this area, they nest alongside a park, and alongside the main road. Probably the safest places for them. I know at least one church yard several years ago had a cull of them! (though different county).

    Re yours, very hard to know without seeing the situation. Is the colony half a mile away at saturation point? It's possibly a second attempt. Maybe they did try at the colony but lost the nest for one reason or another?

    I'm guessing. Seems quite late though for rooks if they've only just turned up and started nest building.
  • hi .when a rookery gets a bit crowded new breeders will start up a new community usually close by if suitable trees are vacant. i saw a two nest one this morning 200 mtrs from from last years 20 nester. i think you are lucky to see the start of a new one'. is there another one nearby? best of luck and i hope this one will grow. regards. billf
  • Are you sure they are not crows, which are solitary breeders.