With the nestling season around the corner for rooks, the Otago Regional Council (ORC) has requested the people residing in Otago to inform the ORC if they spot any rooks in their area. The ORC has requested people to report the sightings between the months of September-October.

The rooks are categorized in the family of crows and ravens, their size usually is bigger than that of magpies and are completely black in color. The black feathers of rookeries also have a luster of blue and purple when exposed to bright light.

Jeff Donaldson, Group Manager, Regional Services, Otago Regional Council also announced that reports of rooks being sighted have come from South Otago and North Otago. There have also been information regarding, sighting of rooks on the Ontago Peninsula.

The places where the rooks have been sighted in South Otago include Greenfield and Wairuna. The sightings have been reported at Moeraki in North Otago. Though, no rooks have been sighted in the region of Strath Taieri.

Mr. Donaldson also expressed gratefulness for the public assisting with the sightings. He added that the rooks have till now been reported in the same places, where they had been reported earlier. Though, he further announced that they would be eager for the discovery of new nesting sites.

Rooks were brought to New Zealand by European farmers to put a control on insects, though rooks can also be a hindrance to the growth of crops and pasture.