Bird group appeals for help with rook nest count

Shropshire Ornithological Society says the numbers of rooks have been in decline

A bird group is asking for help in cataloguing rook nests across a county.

The Shropshire Ornithological Society said numbers of the birds have been in decline, and it wanted a record of rookeries in the area.

It has asked people taking part in the survey between now and the end of the month to complete an online form, with another count due to follow after that.

At this time of year, the organisation said rooks return to their noisy colonies and start nest-building and laying eggs and it was important to record this activity.

The British Trust for Ornithology said a rook can be recognised by its bare, greyish-white skin around the base of their beak. The rest of their plumage is all black.

It described them as "very sociable" birds that build their nests close to each other. Some established rookeries are known to have been in use at the same site for more than 100 years.

The trust also said the rook had been declining in numbers since 2000, particularly in Wales and Scotland.