Merlin the Rook ~±~ Merlins Webpage

Merlin's Homepage

This is Merlin, our resident rook who has been with us since he fell out of the nest last spring.

He completely rules the roost, putting the cats and dogs in their place and even having a go at the three peacocks!

We would love to hear from anyone else out there with a pet rook, or corvid.

About Merlin

I first met Merlin in early May of last year, he was hopping about at the foot of the turkey oak, a large and venerable tree in the corner of the garden a short distance away from the main rookery in the poplar trees to the north. Although quite well feathered, he was obviously too young to care for himself, so I took the dogs back to the house and returned with a cat carrier to put him in. As I approached, he hopped purposefully towards me, squawking loudly and gaping, showing no fear whatsoever. In fifteen years of living at The Rookery this is the first time this has happened, any other orphan or injured rooks I have spotted have made a quick getaway into the undergrowth, Merlin had other things in mind! His voice in the confines of the house cut the air like a knife, so I quickly fed him some cat food from a teaspoon which he accepted with enthusiasm. At the weekend my son Josh returned and an immediate bond was formed, he took over part of the feeding duties and as soon as Merlin's legs were stronger, he would ride around the farm on Josh's shoulder. He soon outgrew the cat carrier, and a parrot cage was purchased, as much for his safety as for our peace of mind as he is somewhat apt to harass the dogs and cats!

We named him Merlin after the book The Return of Merlin by Deepak Chopra. In this book, Merlin's consciousness enters a crow in order to save his apprentice, Melchior. By this act, the bird which previously had a group consciousness as part of a flock becomes an individual with self consciousness, definitely something which applies to our very individual little bird. It turns out I also guessed right about his sex, but I won't embarrass him with the details of how we came to this conclusion! He often makes noises which sound almost like talking, and can imitate dogs barking and cats growling, but he only does this when he thinks he is alone, as soon as someone comes into the room, he squawks, or goes quiet.
He obviously regards himself as part of the household and has no fear of people, dogs & cats whom he is quite prepared to peck at. His "people" are really only me and Josh who raised him. The rest of the family, my husband Phil, daughter Holly, partner Huw & grandaughter Lily are tolerated. guests get the fluffed up feathers & warning beak snaps should they come too close! He takes very little notice of the wild rooks despite the clamour and activity taking place so close to us. He is a stickler for routine, enjoying the morning in "His" yew tree and helping me in the stable, lunch at 1 followed by a siesta, & then outside again until it's time for tea.
During the winter it was too cold for him to be outside for more than short periods, so most of the day was spent around the house, pulling bits of plaster off the walls, hiding pens under rugs and getting them out again, taking up a vantage point on the kitchen bin from which to pester the cats etc.!
In the early evening he joins us in the sitting room to watch TV & play with his toys, which consist of scrumpled bits of paper, pens, lighters, just about anything that hasn't been purchased specifically for him will do! When this has ceased to amuse him (about halfway through Eastenders), He hops onto the sofa & pecks vigorously at my shoulder until I take him back to his cage for his night-night treat of a Krunch-a-Round.
He sleeps soundly from when the cover goes on at about 8.30 to the following morning when the household awakes to his demands for breakfast, & the whole palaver starts all over again!
He is truly the most demanding "pet" I have ever known & being a hobby farmer I've known quite a few!

Jo Phillips.

SITE NEWS

15/02/2009

!!SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!

check back in a few weeks for more...

20/02/2009

Video format not working, trying new uploads - NOW WORKING!!

Forums, Blog and Links Page on the way...

21/02/2009

Forums, Photos, Links and Stories pages added,

New slideshow added "Merlin's Album Number One"

Welcome to Mark and Lisa from CROWS R US, new members on our forums!

27/02/2009

Added "Register" and "Login" buttons to frontpage, Added new link to Raven Haven, Thanks to Mark and Lisa and Sam Malone for linking to us!!

Added Guestbook.

6/03/2009

Blog updated, added link to "Merlin's Music"

13/07/2009

Loads of new stuff added to site, too much to go into...

3/10/2009

New video's added, New members joined, hello to Jadyn the erm, whatever and Mandy Saval and new photo's added, poet and esme both AWOL.

7/11/2009

New photo category's and video added, UFC's (Unidentified Flying Corvids) spotted! (new exclusive merlin the rook arcade games on merlinsgames.webs.com)