Perhaps this is why!

[old'un]

Perhaps this is why pigeons are not hitting the rape this winter. https://www.dsv-uk.co.uk/service/Pressrelease/Pigeons.html

[oowee]

interesting article thx for the post.

[Penelope]

I wonder what would happen to the pigeon population if all farmers switched to these varieties?

[JDog]

This information has long been known, at least by those of us who are acute observers of pigeons feeding habits (and I suppose by farmers).

 

Sooner or later the boffins will invent/manufacture rape which is completely unpalatable to pigeons. Then what? Lower winter survival rates, less breeding pairs in the spring, less pigeons overall, back to the 60's in terms of numbers before OSR was grown.

Edited January 28, 2016 by JDog

[Jim Neal]

Would it be back to how it was in the "old times" though? Our climate is changing and differs from 50+ years ago. Winters are less harsh and prolonged, more wet and generally there's more natural food options available to birds for longer in winter. This is the aggravation a lot of game shoots (ours included) are having - you can't make the birds rely on the food you're putting out, so they ****** off all over the place!

 

I think taking rape off the pigeon's menu would possibly result in some interesting behavioural changes, and maybe an improvement in winter pigeon shooting sport!

Edited February 5, 2016 by Jim Neal