Rook Pie

Question

It has come to my attention that there is a petition going around to stop a pub in the Isle of Wight from serving Rook Pie. The accompanying letter says: 'It appears the serving of Rook is not legal' 
 Does anyone know what the current law on this is; as Rooks are legally allowed to be killed and as far as I know there is no law saying you cannot eat them afterwards? 
 They are calling for people to tell the RSPB and the police about this 'wildlife crime' - poor old RSPB - surely they've got better things to spend their hard earned cash on than responding to reports such as this? And the police are far more worried about real wildlife crime amongst all the other things they have to deal with? 
 Things are stretched enough without badly educated people wasting valuable resources. 
 They are combining this petition with one to stop the killing of parakeets in the south east - surely they know better than to stop this sensible idea? Parakeets are damaging to our native wildlife and there are so few of them at the moment that irradicating them from the UK early would be the best idea? Shame this didn't happen with other alien invaders to our shores (grey squirrels and mink to name but a few...) 
 Maybe we should do more to educate the general public better on what is good for wildlife and what our laws are that help with this?

Stephan Voigt · Accepted Answer

LICENCE (General) WML - GL04 
 To kill or take certain wild birds to prevent serious damage or disease; Issued under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) [“the Act”]; WML - GL04 
 www.naturalengland.org.uk/.../wml-gl04_tcm6-24149.pdf 
 Under the limits of this license, see paragraph h): 
 h) Birds killed or taken under this licence may be eaten, but, with the exception of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus), may not be sold for human consumption. 
 Therefore, it is illegal to sell rook meat in a pub. It is also illegal to disturb nesting birds under the WCA 1981, which includes corvids, unless they pose a direct risk to public safety or health. This exception, once again is regulated by WML - GL04.