I write a page for a local Web Site on the countryside and in looking for a subject for this months news page I thought I would write and film about Rooks but all the local rookeries that I know about and that have been there for many years have all disappeared so I have been looking wider afield but I am having great difficulty finding one in the area. Has anybody else noted their numbers falling and if so why do you think they have?
Hello,
There's evidence of a recent (last 10 years) decline in Rook numbers in Britain - more here http://www.bto.org/birdtrends2010/wcrrook.shtml. Hope you manage to find a rookery to film.
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We still have a rookery on the hill above us. It seems to have been there a long time because it's even marked on the O.S map for the area. I love watching and hearing the rookery. Forgot to mention, we're in Mid Devon near Crediton.
I've heard a lot of reports of Rookeries getting robbed out by grey squirrels - stealing all the eggs. Shame really.
This is a coincidence as we had 2 rooks in our garden today, first time I have seen any here in 35 years. The nearest rookery to here is/was in the trees next to a field which was brambly scrubland & is now a half built housing estate. I can't see the rooks returning to nest there this year. I can't help feeling that the surprise appearance of rooks in the garden has something to do with the chaos going on next door to their former home.
Certainly when doing any BTO surveys it is noticable the number of Rooks and Rookeries has declined in our area,this may be due to changes in farming practice due to the pressure of growing more foodstuffs.Funnily enough another Corvid,the Jackdaw,seems to increasing in numbers in our area,maybe they are more flexible in their feeding/breeding habits,no doubt longer term surveys will show the true picture
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
I have to say that here we have had hundreds, if not thousands of rooks congregating overhead on evenings since early winter. I think there are at least 3 rookeries within a square mile of where I stay. Many jackdaws too.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
We have a regular group of 5 or so rooks that have visited our garden on a regular basis for about 3 years now. There's a biggish rookery not far from here, and in the last couple of years at least 2 more (looks like even more this year) have sprung up near it.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Hi Baz
It could well be farming thats affecting them as well as loss of habitat . Trees in churchyards used to be a favourite with the rooks round here but a lot of the trees have been felled or well trimmed. Its the old health and safety.
But I have noticed with farming crops are resown very quickly especially winter varieties of corn.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
There is one on the main Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton road behind the bus shelter opposite Worfield Garage (now Evans Halshaw) Been there for well over 30 years well over :) Although its not as big as it used to be.
Chris.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
Rook numbers have, pcrashed in Calderdale, West Yorkshire since I moved over here from Manchester in 1994. I previously lived in North Manchester and the same is true over there. It's such a shame as they are so intelligent and interesting. Also I was brought up north of Lancaster and when I was up there I noticed the large rookeries aroundd Hevetsham and Levens Bridge had all disappeared too.I believe they should be the subject of some concern as the decline seems to be widespread no doubt caused by farmers polluting the land with chemicals. Very sad indeed.