Churchyard Nature Note with Andrew Tompsett
December 09
Jackdaws most faithful of birds
At any time of year, on entering the
churchyard,you are almost bound to see jackdaws aroundthe church or tower. This
small member of the crow family withdark plumage, grey neck, dark black cap and
jaunty manner tends to be dismissed as ‘justa crow’ but their habits are quite
distinct and worth observing more closely.
The first thing to note is that they never
stray far from their habitual nesting place. They do not migrate and you can be assured that our birds are Illogan borne
and bred! For such gregarious birds it is interesting to note that a pair of jackdaws remain totally loyal and virtually
inseparable, literally until death do them part. To see a couple, who regularly
nest under the church eaves, sunning
themselves and chatting amiably on the
gutter on a chilly winter’s day is a
charming sight.
However, do not think that jackdaws don’t
enjoy themselves. Jackdaws and rooks seem to get on very well together and like nothingmore than competing in aerial displays with jackdaws clear winners as they swoop and dive in the wind. Coast dwelling ones also enjoy the updraught
from the cliffs in the company of gulls.
The noisy chatter of nestlings is well
known to church goers as are the piles of sticks which the birds deposit in the tower each year. Sadly some youngsters may
die if theyfall down inside buildings and chimneys.
All members of the crow family share an intelligence and craftiness beyond that of
most birds. With the exception of the
Cornish chough, which is a specialised feeder and making a welcome reappearance on the Lizard, all scavenge
a mixed diet and are successful
species.Perhaps the social rook,with some
30-40 nests in Maningham Wood is best
known but the similar sized carrion crowis alsocommon but invariablylives and nests
alone. The hoarse croak of the raven as i
t flies over land or coast is evocative of our
wild coasts and moors.
This leaves us with the jay and magpie, two rogues of the bird world since they prey on
the eggs and young of smaller species.
Perhaps the jay deserves our sympathy since its gorgeous wing feathers once adornedevery gentleman’s trilby, and as a result the bird skulks in the woods emerging in autumn when acorns are numerous which it caches for the winter. As for the magpie, it is a bird we love tohate, but one has to admit for cunning and adaptability it islikely to be one of the last birds to survive if climate change really bites!