LETTERSFrom Howard Hawes, Carisbrooke:
ROGER Serjent (CP, 20-05-2011) claims that by eating rook it, "controls numbers of a bird that is recognised as affecting songbird populations."
I think this gentleman is ill advised. He should be looking at carrion crows and magpies. The latter work along a hedge, systematically pillaging nests of their eggs and/or young birds.
Rooks do not set out systematically to hunt young birds, as do those predators mentioned above. While both are corvids, the rook should not be confused with the crow.
The rook’s food consists largely of seeds and insects: pests such as weevils, dung flies, blow fly larvae, beetles, wasps, moths and moth larvae and mosquitoes and leatherjackets; as well as worms and carrion. They do not, habitually, set out to hunt and kill, like the magpie.
Where rook eggs or young are lost immediately after laying or hatching, the brood may sometimes be replaced, but this is not always the case.
High winds also reduced breeding success, as was the case in 1987, when rookery nests were destroyed. So increases in reproduction rates are not possible.
Some years ago I wrote a poem about the plight of IW rooks.
The Rooks of Carisbrooke
When I was young, yes, I was but a lad
There lay along the way to work a convent
Set amid the trees: a veritable natural wood,
(One such as many an English village had).
Within whose treetops one could spy a rookery,
Nest scattered ’mongst the branches up on high.
The rooks would caw and caw and give delight
To all the village folk a passing by.
I loved those rooks for they gave me a feel
Of permanence; of continuity:
They’d been ensconced as a community
Long ages past, and countless hearts did thrill.
In former days of ancient Carisbrooke,
When Parkhurst Forest’s boundaries lay nigh,
The village fold foretold the seasons by
The nesting habits of the village rook.
They’re blamed for eating seed within the sod
But folks forget the good that the rooks do:
They eat both snail and leatherjacket, too;
And rooks, like we, were made by mighty God
To serve a useful purpose in our world!
But, were there those with 'other things’ in mind:
Such 'other things’ that we might think unkind;
Those 'other things’ worse than odd stone uphurled?
"Let us be rid of them," thought they? (I’d disagree).
Removed they every rook; not just a few.
All disappeared…, (and I much heartache knew):
Ne’er rook, nor nest, was left upon a tree!
Did car or two beneath their copious tree,
Meet with a few small droppings from above?
Was this the reason for the loss of birds I love;
Reason to 'remove’ our rooks so totally?
What shall then betoke our generation?
That in the annals they shall write our 'fame’:
"They wrought the Village rooks’ eradication!"
Rooks’ droppings drew a local marksman’s aim?
Rest thou in peace our ancient, village rook;
We miss your daily flight o’er Beaucombe vale.
We wish that thou wert here still, whole and hale!
Bring back our ancient rook to Carisbrooke.
From Nigel & Sandra Simpson, Ventnor:
Just a gimmick: We were disgusted to read of The Taverners serving up baby rooks.
No doubt few of the diners will have given any thought to the amount of work these birds put into raising their young.
It probably also explains why we have been repeatedly woken at 6am, day after day, by the sound of gunfire recently.
Just how many birds have been killed to provide 30 portions?
The notion that rooks are affecting songbird populations is not a "recognised" fact — merely a theory and many, including the RSPB, are not in favour of culling rooks for this reason.
All wild birds are at threat from man’s activities and the idea of shooting fledgling rooks (for they are the easiest targets) to provide a gimmicky and, no doubt, profitable ingredient for a salad is deplorable.
From Stephen Mills, Newchurch:
Poor editing: I was appalled to read the article regarding The Taverners. I can only assume it to be some kind of sick joke. Nonetheless to print such a nonsense on the front page, or indeed on any page, of a publication claiming to be a family read is beyond belief.