Annoying Rook

[Michelleatiisis]

So, as my house backs on to farmland, we have a flock of Rooks (with the odd Jackdaw) come every day. They are big horrible looking things but i like that they seem to eat all the snails and slugs!
Anyway, I have my feeders on the back of the stables but I also have two rigged up to the post and rail near a big area of brambles - this for the birds who are too shy to come near the house.
problem is that one of the Rooks has worked out that he can shake the feeder and tip the seeds out!
it's the same bird every day! Very annoying (although quite funny to watch).
He and his Rooky mates then munch all the seeds!

Any advice?

[Rye]

Air rifle.

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Rye

Air rifle.

Tut-tut. By all means use the air rifle to bag a few rabbits, there's a glut of those, and chuck them over for the rooks they'll probably appreciate that more than a handful of seeds.

[artdemole]

Put up with it.Enjoy the antics. Change the feeder or scare it off.It's wild life.

[rossy]

rooks are clever birds as are most corvids, have you ever noticed when stopping at motorway services, how they are always present, they have worked out that man throws an awful lot of food, so any leftovers are soon eaten. as put enjoy the rook, and throw more seeds for him and his mates.. rossy,

[faz]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

Tut-tut. By all means use the air rifle to bag a few rabbits, there's a glut of those, and chuck them over for the rooks they'll probably appreciate that more than a handful of seeds.

well said

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Michelleatiisis

So, as my house backs on to farmland, we have a flock of Rooks (with the odd Jackdaw) come every day. They are big horrible looking things but i like that they seem to eat all the snails and slugs!
Anyway, I have my feeders on the back of the stables but I also have two rigged up to the post and rail near a big area of brambles - this for the birds who are too shy to come near the house.
problem is that one of the Rooks has worked out that he can shake the feeder and tip the seeds out!
it's the same bird every day! Very annoying (although quite funny to watch).
He and his Rooky mates then munch all the seeds!

Any advice?

I dread to think what these rooks think of you. They can't help being rooks; give 'em plenty to eat and feel good about it.
Dorts.

[nightshade]

Not so much annoying Rook, as annoyed person person. It is not singleing you out

[Jackaroo]

Try setting your feeders at an angle. Everybody knows Rooks can only attack in a straight line. Tee-hee.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

Try setting your feeders at an angle. Everybody knows Rooks can only attack in a straight line. Tee-hee.

I like it!



Seriously though, it's an interesting opportunity for you to observe the intelligence of birds like Rooks.
If the Rook has to shake the feeder to get the seeds out, surely you can come up with some way of fixing the feeder more firmly in place? You then get to see the Rooks reaction, and whether it can find away to get around whatever measures you take!