ROOKS DESERT THEIR YOUNG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 9 July 1907, Page 4

ROOKS DESERT THEIR YOUNG.

- A Tragic (isgration

A j.>'rim tragedy oi 1 >ircl life lias occurred iu an ancient Colchester rookery. For some: 1 mysterious reason, just as the parent rooks (th&re were about thirty pairs of them) had brought their do—inesiic allairs to a crisis, aud everv bird which was not sittiugou eggs was helping to teed the broods o! clamorous young oue:., all the adult birds suddenly disappeared., leaving their little ones to perish in the deserted nests. l\lany reasons have been put forward for the disappearance of the birds, but nobod}’ has suggested that they wiltully absconded, tor whatever vices the rook may have, he is an exemplary parent. The rookery is in the tops of some tall elms in the grounds of the Essex flail Asylum. The trees border a main road, on the other side oi which arc a few scattered nests oi the colony in some poplars. As long as local people can remember the rookery has been a feature of the asylum grounds, which only adds to the mystery of the tragedy that has now befallen it. On 1 lie morning following the night during which the birds deserted their homes, passers bv on the road heard above them the cries of the baby rooks. For several successive ekiy’s the plaintive cries were heard, growing weaker and weaker until they ceased altogether. People pitied the destitute fledglings, Jett orphaned and starving, amid all the plenty of spring; but they were quite unable to help them. A remarkabl® and exceedingly pathetic feature of the tragedy was the heroic effort made by one old rook to save the dying children. Whatever fright or calamity it was that drove his comrades from their ancestral domain, lie had the pluck to return several days running and attempt the formidable task of feeding the dozens of hungry mouths. Once only did another rook return with him to help lighten his tremendous labours. This solitary rook never u cawed.” Pie was subdued and furtive in manner, as though thinking of the great tragedy which had happened and half frightened of appearing at the scene of it. The starving young birds squeaked their joy when'he appeared; and how he worked ! Backwards aud forwards he flew with scraps of food. For hours lie was at it, and without avail. Plow could lie be expected to be father and mother to so mail}’ families of hungry babies ? And so the little ones slowly died in their nests, the last weak cry being silenced ten days after the tragedy ' happened, the old rook having kept this one alive all that time. But then a stranger thing happened, for still the old rook came to the nests, aud began carrying away the little dead bodies. A few he dropped to the ground accidentally, the remainder lie carried right away from the rookery .The deserted eggs still lie aloft in the rookless trees.