Shropshire Rookery Survey 2008 - An appeal for help from John Tucker
County rookeries were last surveyed in 1975 - 455 sites were reported containing 12,004 nests. So, more than three decades on, are those sites still active and are they the same size, where are the new ones and has the overall population changed? The March/April 2008 survey gives you a chance to help to answer the questions - everyone knows what a rookery looks like so please tell me when you find any.
There is a very simple form to fill in - all I really need to know is who you are and where and how big your rookery is. You can find the form on my website, you can email me or write and ask me for a form for each rookery.
You can look for the 1975 rookeries anywhere in Shropshire, in detail, on an aerial photograph - log on to the website listed below and follow the links to Google Earth and you have the chance to check out the locations of the 1975 sites and, as they come in, the locations of the 2008 sites. If you send one in this year it will, if you agree, have your name on it. Perhaps you could cover your parish, perhaps 3 - 5 sites? Your help will be acknowledged in my final report and I look forward to hearing from you.
For the dedicated website with full details go to www.lanius.org.uk and follow the links to the survey.
This survey is supported by the Shropshire Ornithological Society. Much of the technical work on the SRS08 Website was carried out by John Harding whose work is much appreciated.
John Tucker, Oakerley, Clun Road, Aston on Clun, Craven Arms, SY7 8EW to contact John by email go to www.lanius.org.uk/Other/email.php
The photograph shows Purslow rookery in willows, deserted and quiet on a stormy day in January 2008. On fine days throughout the winter rooks will congregate in their nesting trees socialising and probably maintaining the rights to their own nests in preparation for the coming breeding season
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The map below shows all the rookeries in Shropshire visited in 1975.
