Excessive noise from a rookery

LucianH

I’m really hoping someone can help with something that is driving our family crazy.  We live in the middle of a village and our house is adjacent to the grounds of a large property.  Directly opposite our house, on the other side of the road, there is a dense row of very large trees that bound the grounds of the adjacent property.  As a rough estimate I’d say the trees are in excess of 20m high and are just 15m from our house.

Now, it’s not the trees that are bothering us - it’s who’s living in them.  Over the last few years, a colony of rooks have been breeding in the trees.  This year however, the rockery has expanded considerably (now more than 50 rooks).   As a result, we are now bombarded with the noise of rooks cawing nearly all the time from sunrise to sunset.  If is was any other bird we’d love the sound, but the coarse sound (and volume) of the rooks’ calls has got unbearable.  It’s got to the point that we can’t have windows open and sitting outside is a nightmare (for my sanity, I’m now having to sit outside with earphones).

I seem to remember hearing that rooks are a protected species but I’d like to know if there are exceptions where it is so close to a residential property (if it was a “human” neighbour I’d be seeking a noise abatement order!)

If there are exceptions, then can anybody provide advice on controlling or removing a rookery (or suggestions of other forums or resources).  For info, the area is a conservation area – I’m not sure if this will impact the options (eg, reducing the height of the trees?).  I'm prepared to foot the bill but, for info, would there be any obligation on the owner of the property where the trees are growing  (the sound of the rooks is not a problem to the the owner of the grounds - their property is set a long way back from the trees)?  

Any help would be very much appreciated.

General_Applause

Sell up and move to the city.

City for humans, trees for birds.

greyteam1959

I remember reading somewhere that shining a high power spotlight into the trees scares them away.
Cheap enough to try.

Martin_the_Unjust

There are a number of ways of dealing with a rookery's
But they are not on your land so that limits you to one of two options either, get used to it or move house.

greatcrested

You remind me of those city folk who move to an 'idylic country village' and complain about the church bells. Or the farm tractors. Or the sheep bleating.

For goodness sake - you're in the country. You'll hear wildlife noise! If you don't like it, go and listen to traffic noise in the city instead.

andre_xs

Sorry, I can't help you. Just after the other posts, I wanted to say that I do feel with you. Nature is mostly great, but can be very annoying as well. I'm coming from the countryside and grew up with farm noises etc, but I also can get annoyed. If it's the same sound, very loud and over and over again for days, weeks,... And I agree, rooks can be annoying. Hearing them on an autumn walk is fine, but constantly all year round?? Unfortunately I don't know what to do about it.

LucianH

greatcrested said:

You remind me of those city folk who move to an 'idylic country village' and complain about the church bells. Or the farm tractors. Or the sheep bleating.

For goodness sake - you're in the country. You'll hear wildlife noise! If you don't like it, go and listen to traffic noise in the city instead.

I am not "city folk"   I grew up near by and have lived in our current location for more than twenty years.  And, yes there is a church nearby and we love the sound of the frequent church bell practices (and sheep bleating and cows mooing etc etc).  We have absolutely no issues with what may considered as normal country "inconveniences" (including continuous stream of tractors hauling manure at this time of year, lorries hauling eggs from the local chicken farm, and commuter traffic using rat runs through the country lanes) and are happy to live with them.
But, to use a city analogy, there's a distinct difference between "normal" traffic/city noise  and having a motorway next to your house. The rookery only established itself a couple of years ago and has grown significantly.  And, as andre_xs says "Hearing them on an autumn walk is fine, but constantly all year round??" sums it up.

LucianH

Martin_the_Unjust said:

There are a number of ways of dealing with a rookery's
But they are not on your land so that limits you to one of two options either, get used to it or move house.

Thanks, can you point me in some direction as to what are the options (including those with the agreement of the land owner).

Martin_the_Unjust

LucianH said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

There are a number of ways of dealing with a rookery's
But they are not on your land so that limits you to one of two options either, get used to it or move house.

Thanks, can you point me in some direction as to what are the options (including those with the agreement of the land owner).

Rooks return year after year to the same nest and their young generally like to nest near to where they were hatched so the rookery is going to keep getting bigger (sorry)

Your options are (with the agreement of the landowner,

In order of effectiveness.
1, Take down the trees
2. Reduce the height of the trees.
3. Get yourself some rook poles and remove the nests once they are empty. You will need to be vigilant next and subsequent springs and remove any nests as they are being built before any eggs are laid.
4. Shooting, it's how rookery's used to be kept 'under control' 

TELLIT01

Of the various options, I suspect that the high power light might be the most effective as it will cause disturbance without injury.  Don't try at this time of year as you may be disturbing nesting birds which is an offence.

I have found this link which might we worth a call. https://www.nbcenvironment.co.uk/bird-control-services/nuisance-birds/commercialrooks/ although it does refer to rooks on your land.

Andy_L

Martin_the_Unjust said:

LucianH said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

There are a number of ways of dealing with a rookery's
But they are not on your land so that limits you to one of two options either, get used to it or move house.

Thanks, can you point me in some direction as to what are the options (including those with the agreement of the land owner).

Rooks return year after year to the same nest and their young generally like to nest near to where they were hatched so the rookery is going to keep getting bigger (sorry)

Your options are (with the agreement of the landowner,

In order of effectiveness.
1, Take down the trees
2. Reduce the height of the trees.
3. Get yourself some rook poles and remove the nests once they are empty. You will need to be vigilant next and subsequent springs and remove any nests as they are being built before any eggs are laid.
4. Shooting, it's how rookery's used to be kept 'under control' 

Not sure you can just shot them anymore under the changes to the general licence.