Old Broken-Beak is back
In my local park, a short walk from my house in South Devon, is a rookery. Rooks are highly social birds and nest in noisy groups. Here’s one Rook in early morning sunshine next to its nest.
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1849-725x483.jpg)
At this time of year the nests are quite visible because leaf cover is lower. They jump between branches in the canopy:
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1850-725x483.jpg)
They take flight and do sweeping flypasts, calling and occasionally jostling and chasing one another:
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1860-725x483.jpg)
The chase is on:
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1885-725x483.jpg)
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1479-725x483.jpg)
They are fascinating to watch in the early morning. I’m missing seeing them at the moment as there’s a police helicopter hovering over the park and people are staying indoors.
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1468-725x483.jpg)
One of the characters there is Old Broken-Beak, a Rook with a malformed beak. As with many birds with beak deformities it seems to be able to function well.
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1445-725x483.jpg)
I wish it good luck.
As I walked down to the Quay, two Rooks sat on a nearby terrace, their attention held by activity in the sky.
![Rook - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Town-Quay-The-Hall-of-Einar-1500-725x483.jpg)
I’m looking forward to being back there with them soon.