Rookery Rooks Homepages : merlintherook.webs.com

Maybe Merlin

In mid April a pair of rooks started trying to build a nest, needless to say all the other nests were already filled with nestlings!

Their site of choice was not the best being at the very top of a poplar tree above the other nests in that particular clump of trees, and daily their twigs were either blown away or removed by other birds, who were quite hostile.

Eventually they put in a magnificent effort with both birds fetching twigs all day, until by the evening the hen bird was able to sit in the nest.

Could this be Merlin and partner?

As he only left on March 17 he would not have had the opportunity for the long courtship I have read rooks and jackdaws normally have, which would explain the late building. Prior to his departure and before all the rooks had returned full time to the rookery I know that he was visited by a solitary rook on several occasions.

Whilst they were building Josh and I went out together and did a lot of calling, one bird left the nest site, and came gradually down to the lowest branches before returning to its mate, the strongest indication we have had that it may be Merlin.

 So far as I could make out, chicks did eventually hatch, as I observed some feeding, but I don't believe they survived, as the feeding became more and more sporadic. The male's efforts at bringing food were probably too irregular, another indication that it could be Merlin as he would probably find it quite a challenge to collect enough to feed a family. Hopefully they'll have better luck next year!

Reigny & Inkpen

"New rooks raised with silver spoon!"

Reigny came to us on 11th May and Inkpen,

 on the 24th of May. Reigny is named after the village of Newton Reigny in the lake district which is on the site of the famous caledonian forest which has now dissapeared. This is where Merlin fled to in his last days of madness, you can read the story here The Madness of King Merlin . And Inkpen is named after the village of Inkpen which has Arthurian connexions, more (scant) info at InkpenVillage . 

They have become the best of friends and do everything together.

They love their capacious new cage, known as "Corvid Towers", and if anything happens to frighten them, they rush to go back in, or hide underneath it!

They can now both help themselves to food in their bowl, but still clamour for spoon feeding with the tiny silver coffee spoon they have come to love so much!