What do Rooks look like?
Rooks are completely black in colour and sometimes a slightly purple tint can be seen. They have large, powerful, pointed beaks. They are quite noisy birds with a harsh kaaah call. You will often hear them calling as they are flying.
Rooks are often mistaken for magpies, but Rooks are larger in size than magpies and completely black. In spring they set up a nesting site called a rookery, usually in large tall trees such as mature pines and eucalypts and they will congregate in these areas. From their rookeries they go out to forage in the surrounding area. Rookeries can get up to 1,000 in number if allowed to breed.
How do you control Rooks?
Rooks are smart birds and learn very quickly to avoid control methods, they especially become very wary of any shooting - therefore controlling Rooks is a specialised activity which the Council will undertake. If you do see a Rook(s), do not shoot at it as this will reduce the chances of successfully controlling Rooks. Please contact the Council if you see a Rook and we will take care of the control efforts.
What does the Council do to control Rooks?
Council will undertake all control efforts to eradicate Rooks if they appear in the district.
The Council relies heavily on people contacting us if they have seen something that looks like a Rook, however, we also undertake annual surveillance for Rooks in the areas that have had rookeries, and any observations of Rooks are followed up with surveillance by the Council.
Education about Rooks is also undertaken particularly in Spring when they are most likely to be seen and heard.
