In Russia has always been that when arrive rooks, then spring comes.They are its messengers.And it happens in the second half of March, namely the 17 of this month referred to in the national calendar, "Gerasim rookery."
associated with these birds a few folk take.When arrive rooks (directly on their nest last year), then immediately take the repair.This is - a sign that spring has to be friendly and warm.A short time if they remain on the nest, so the cold will still hold.
Bird rook their appearance is very similar to a crow, so many of them are confused.By the way, rooks often can be found in a flock of crows.But they have one characteristic distinguishing feature - a neoperennoe ring around the beak.However, in young animals such ring is missing.Painting of a bird's feathers black with metallic blue sheen (below - photo rook).
When rooks arrive for them is not enough food, so they thawed roam in search of seeds from last year's grass and ground beetles emerged.Once in the fields plowing begins, the birds follow the tractor, collecting earthworms.
And with the emergence of beetles, they begin to gather in gardens, parks and engaged in the destruction of harmful insects.They collect them from the leaves of aspen and birch.This rooks bring tangible benefits, because they eliminate the wood by the larvae of beetles and beetles, from the wire worms, bugs, turtles and weevils.
but some also bring harm to birds (vyklevyvaya earthworms and seeds sown in the fields of crops).And in the summer, birds can cause considerable damage to the fields of sunflowers, peas and corn.And melon field could be affected, for rooks like to eat melons and watermelons.
rooks nest in colonies on trees, such colony rookery can exist for several years.One large tree can accommodate several dozen nests.By the favorite habitats of these birds are linden park, light birch groves, old gardens or edge of the forest that are in the vicinity of the fields.
rooks arrange their nests at a height of 15 meters from the ground.They have them in the trunk or in the fork of thick branches.Nests are built of branches of the same tree.The lower part of the nest consists of a well-connected by the thick boughs, and the top - of thin twigs.Bottom line the soft grass, tufts of wool or some rags found.
Nesting occurs in April - May, in the masonry is usually from 3 to 5 eggs, they are green with brown spots.Chicks hatched only by the female.After 16 - 20 days, the chicks appear, they have no tail, so the female is necessary for a long time not to leave the nest.All this time the male feeds the female first, and then appeared chicks.
about a week (or slightly more), the female begins to fly and participate in feeding their brood.A month later, the chicks gradually emerge from the nest, some time even feed their parents.
colony of rooks heard from afar a noise heard throughout the county.Birds do not pay attention to changes in the landscape, even the fact that their settlements are near the center of the sprawling city.
And despite the fact that these birds a lot of noise when arrive rooks, my heart warms people.So warm days will soon come, nature will start to wake up, because not for nothing that the people said, "Rooks spring torn to pieces."
