Today I thought I’d post an image of a species that has been at the centre of a couple of depressing talking points over the past month. But before I get on to that, please feel free to marvel at the beauty of this rook. These distinctive and intelligent birds are one of my favourite species.
So, as you can imagine, I was pretty disgusted to read an article from last month entitled ‘Residents describe horror of finding dead rooks nailed to posts’. A farmer in a Cornish hamlet was using the dead birds as a deterrent to rooks, and other bird species, to discourage them from accessing his crops. This farmer is quoted as saying “This is a practice that goes back centuries but times are changing and we have to be sensitive, I suppose.” I couldn’t agree more and so do the residents of the area. Unfortunately, farmers can speak for what they think is the right way to go about their business and protect their livelihoods, but our wildlife doesn’t have a way of putting their case forward, or they haven’t until now.
Have you heard of Wild Justice? If not, please visit the Wild Justice website to find out more. If you agree that the current system of general licences (to allow people to shoot species, such as rooks) is scientifically flawed and unlawful please support their work. Mark Avery, Dr Ruth Tingay and Chris Packham have set up Wild Justice to take legal cases on behalf of wildlife against public bodies where they are failing to protect species and/or habitats. They are giving species, such as rooks, a real voice. I’m sick of certain species having a ‘bad reputation’ (my beloved corvids and gulls spring instantly to mind) with no way of defending themselves. I hope my images and blogs can help to dispel some myths and that I can lend my voice and photography to their cause.
I photographed this rook at Irvine beach on a hot and sunny day. It was taken just hours before the weather broke and the heat and humidity changed to pouring rain and thunderstorms. But the calm before the storm was incredibly warm. I saw a few rooks bouncing around on some of the green spaces near the car park at the beach and noticed that some seemed to be feeling the heat. This bird, however, seemed to be maintaining its cool and almost looks like it is skipping through the grass. I took this photo whilst sat on a bench, with the rook moving past me at eye level on a grass verge.