Curious behaviour by Rooks

moulesy
moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited March 2016 in Wildlife, Nature & the Great Outdoors #1

For the past couple of weeks we've been puzzled by a group of 3 rooks (might be crows!) - 2 adults and a juvenile - who have been comng onto our lawns and pecking ut clumps of moss - literally bucketfuls of the stuff!  At first we thought they might be after
nesting material, but they don't appear to take any of it away with them. There's no obvious signs of an ants' nest so it's not that they're after. They are probably saving us quids and hours of work in getting rid of the moss from the lawn, but has anyone
else noticed anything similar. Or got any ideas what they might be doing?

Comments

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited March 2016 #2

    I'm no expert M but-I reckon they're Rooks, Rooks are gregarious, Crows tend to be in 2's max(Spring nesting time) the moss thing I reckon is for worms/bugs. Moss grows in damp/shadowy cool areas so there could be food under it.

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited March 2016 #3

    Might it be this?.

    Caching

    During caching (hiding), food is taken into the bill and deposited into the ground; either directly or into a pre-dug hole. The food is placed into it and then covered over. Birds remember where they hid the food and return to it later. They will protect it from thieves, by hiding it behind objects or making false caches (such as stones).

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #4

    You'll probably notice that whilst they do this they tend to go around in a big circle eventually. It's simply looking for food and if they're returning then it means you have a healthy lawn, or did until they made a mess of it. Just hope they don't tell
    their mates.

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited March 2016 #5

    Talking of Rooks & Crows, have a look at my story re Scottish Vandals in the Stories section!

    TF

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited March 2016 #6

    Have just checked and discovered that as the story has been up for a little while it has now gone into the less obvious file so will need looking for.

    But basically it is a warning to those members visiting the West highland Coast Nr Bunree and Fort William, to either fold in or cover their door mirrors at night because the Hooded Crows up there have a nasty habit of attacking their own image in the door
    mirrors and as a result quite frequently break them!  Its happened to me and as mine were heated etc were not cheap to replace!

    TF

  • RSPB
    RSPB Forum Participant Posts: 53
    edited April 2016 #7

    I walked past a fantastic Rookery (congregation of Rooks!) the other week, near Birling Gap in Sussex. Did you know that Rooks are one of the most intelligent birds? Scientific studies have shown they rival Chimpanzees when it comes to tool use.

    Rooks only build nests from materials plucked from trees e.g. live twigs; and don't tend to use material found on the ground. 

    They're part of the Corvid family, along with your typical Carrion Crow & Jackdaw. I reckon JCB4X4 could have the answer - very possible indeed!

     

    Did you know that Crows are one of the only birds whose young show signs of playing? 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #8

    OH has reared quite a few crows, rooks and jackdaws. The last one went on to join fellow rescuees at the rspca wild life centre at West Hatch, it had originally been taken from a nest by a predator. They are all very intelligent birds and lovely to watch
    but I'm glad I don't live under a rookery...they are early risers and very noisy!Smile

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