Today at 3:30 PM • Updated today at 4:03 PM
You’re sitting quietly in the garden, and a rook flies over and poops right on you. It happened to several residents of the De Valuwe district in Cuijk. There has been a nuisance from a rookery for years. Residents would prefer to see the rooks disappear. But that is precisely where the problem lies.
Ruqiya Mahamed has been living happily with her two children in her corner house in Cuijk for a few months now. She almost never comes into the garden. “My window, the tiles in the garden and also the rubbish bin are completely covered in bird droppings,” she says. For that reason, for example, there is no garden furniture outside.
Herman Westerhof also recognizes the problem that he believes has been going on for years. “We can hardly enjoy the garden anymore. You have to be careful not to be shit on. That’s why we sit under a canopy or a sunshade. Sitting on a chair normally is not possible, because you are heavily pelted. That’s not funny. And they are not small poops, but whole blocks.”
The rooks are in the tall trees that can be found in De Valuwe. If you look up, you can count at least twelve nests in one tree. According to Mahamed, the birds make a huge noise. “That starts at half past five in the morning. In addition to the screaming sound, it also reminds me of gagging. It’s driving me crazy,” she describes. Even though she has only lived in the area for a short time, she is already thinking about moving.
Roofer Gerwin Broeren is particularly disappointed that his company bus is covered in poop every time. “If you want to get somewhere, you like to come with a clean car. But now I have to wash my car every time I want to leave.”
A problem that Westerhof also has. “The car is my hobby, but if you have to wash it every time it is very annoying. I have to clean it twice a week because the birds do their business. It takes half a day. That is no longer fun. And it is also bad for the paint.”
Chasing away prohibited
Rooks are protected species that live in groups. Therefore, the bird species may not be killed or hunted without an exemption. Rooks’ nests are protected all year round. According to the Bird Protection Society, the number has decreased slightly since 2000.
The animals resemble crows and ravens, but the rook’s beak is more pointed and light gray in color. He also has a steep forehead and a small head. In the air the rook stands out because of its fan-shaped tail.
The municipality of Land van Cuijk understands that the birds can cause a nuisance, but says it is also bound by rules because rooks are a protected species. “Sometimes rules seem to conflict with perceived nuisance. In such cases we consult with competent authorities, but we must adhere to laws and regulations,” writes a spokesperson.
The municipality also says that in the past there has been consultation with the province’s Fauna Management Unit after a report. Then it turned out to be impossible to intervene because of the rules.
Broeren has already taken a measure himself. “I put up a kite to scare the birds. But it’s time for it to stop.”
The municipality says it is open to investigating possible measures. This should make it clear whether and what measures can be taken.
By the way, not everyone finds the birds a nuisance. “The birds also deserve a home. It would only be nice if the municipality came to clean the sidewalks more often. They are quite covered,” says a woman. Another man says his cars get dirty every now and then, but he has no specific opinion about the rooks.
