For the hamlet is currently home to several rookeries, meaning the skies above often look like a scene from 1963 movie The Birds as an estimated 800, black-feathered rooks swoop en masse.
Annandale North ward councillor and Torthorwald resident Doug Fairbairn explained that the ‘gregarious’ birds set up home in the village a few years ago and in that time the numbers have increased considerably.
He said: “Changed methods in farming practices and previous control of their numbers has resulted in them moving from the outskirts to the centre of the village.
“Over the last couple of years the colony has increased in size and residents’ lives are being blighted due to the noise and damage the birds are causing: the birds start nesting in early March and are active from that point right through until August and beyond.
“Their calls and noise starts from 4 am and can go on throughout the whole day during nesting, causing people in the village anxiety and in some cases depression.
“It has been even more difficult this year during lockdown when everyone has been at home, with the continual cawing affecting the mental health of individuals.”
He also revealed that bird faeces is covering pavements and roadways, as well as residents’ vehicles and washing hanging outside.
And Cllr Fairbairn added: “The birds are also attacking garden birds and damaging feeders within gardens.
“Due to the numbers increasing, other carrion are looking at the area favourably with magpies and jackdaws becoming ever more evident.
“Torthorwald is facing a serious problem that could see the village playing host to around 3000 birds within the next couple of years, which will not only see an increase in noise and challenging the mental health of residents within the village, but this could lead to other problems and could see the village being unliveable for residents and other wildlife.”
In February this year, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) announced that rooks, as well as ten other species of birds, would have stronger protection as they were removed from General Licences for shooting.
All wild birds are protected by law, but General Licences allow certain birds to be killed without the need to apply for individual licences – for example, to prevent serious damage to crops, to protect public health and to help prevent predation of other, at-risk bird species.
But now, renewed licence rules mean those seeking to control birds not included on the updated list will be legally required to apply for a licence.
SNH’s head of wildlife management Robbie Kernahan said: “Our role is to help wild birds thrive, but we must also safeguard the public from health and safety risks, as well as make sure farmers can protect their crops.”
Cllr Fairbairn said: “Rooks are a fantastically intelligent birds and highly entertaining and locals certainly don’t want to persecute them, all people are looking for is a solution and help with this ever increasing problem.”
