turbo33 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 I have noticed the massive increase in Buzzards around me in the south and a similar decrease in the pigeon population. I am not alone in having my deeks swooped on by Buzzards so clearly they like pigeon dinners. My question is do pigeons fear them so much they will leave an area? Your thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 I have noticed the massive increase in Buzzards around me in the south and a similar decrease in the pigeon population. I am not alone in having my deeks swooped on by Buzzards so clearly they like pigeon dinners. My question is do pigeons fear them so much they will leave an area? Your thoughts? then answer is no. there a loads of buzzard around here and have been for years. this hasn't affected the pigeons one bit. on the whole they are usually faster. th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR1960 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 No buzzards round here no pigeons either, perhaps they've gone on holiday together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 No there is loads of pigeons at the back of me the only thing that suffers are the peewits they get hammered Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Hi All Yea i agree, there is more buzards about but they are littel slow for a fit woody, Now the female spar she can come to terms with a fit woody and spars have been In good numbers for a long time, Any rappter will spook a flok of feeding birds, i have seen spars take out a woody in a flok and the others have just flown around and come back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Tom Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 there are lots of buzzards around here see 5 + each day and red kites see 2 or 3 a day same ones but always around. and the pigeon are in 100's on rape at the moment. so cant be bad, the game keeper hates them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 There's a pair of buzzards on my mates permission, see them every time out,spooks the pigeons a bit but never witnessed them trying to catch pigeons. Often flys very low over the roost but again they don't seem to be interested in taking a sitting pigeon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointer Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Buzzards are inherently lazy and do not waste a lot of energy hunting live quarry. They are more of a scavenger and will take the easy option of finding fallen prey or swooping down and nicking a pigeon you have shot from your pattern etc. Pigeons will also give them a wide berth when out and about and it can spoil a decoying session if one or more are hanging around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw100 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Buzzards are inherently lazy and do not waste a lot of energy hunting live quarry. They are more of a scavenger and will take the easy option of finding fallen prey or swooping down and nicking a pigeon you have shot from your pattern etc. Pigeons will also give them a wide berth when out and about and it can spoil a decoying session if one or more are hanging around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Buzzards are inherently lazy and do not waste a lot of energy hunting live quarry. They are more of a scavenger and will take the easy option of finding fallen prey or swooping down and nicking a pigeon you have shot from your pattern etc. Pigeons will also give them a wide berth when out and about and it can spoil a decoying session if one or more are hanging around. Thats exactly what I have found :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peathag Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 I have noticed the massive increase in Buzzards around me in the south and a similar decrease in the pigeon population. I am not alone in having my deeks swooped on by Buzzards so clearly they like pigeon dinners. My question is do pigeons fear them so much they will leave an area? Your thoughts? No - Buzzards do not have any significant effect on the pigeon population - more likely to be lack of good pigeon crops and woods in your area or better crops and woods in others and as you will appreciate pigeons will travel miles in a day. The only predator that can have a significant effect on pigeons as a whole is humans and prolonged severe cold weather spells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 I would think egg predation by corvids and grey squirrels will be having the greatest effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 The pigeons ignore the buzzards in my part of Norfolk and I often see pigeons feeding and buzzards hunting voles in the same field. What does stir up the pigeons though is a harrier or sparrowhawk. I like to have one or two of them about when I am shooting as they keep the pigeons moving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 I don't have a lack of pigeons, just a lack of talent getting them to commit to a pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 completely agree with pointer. the reason they show so much interest in deeks is, i think, because they obviously recognise them as pigeons but also the fact they aren't moving (much) which makes buzzard think chance of an easy meal. in terms of food chains, i certainly don't think buzzards and pigeons bump into one another too frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edz Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Lots of Buzzards in Blackpool and surrounding arrears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngdecoyer Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 As i write this 2 red kites are circling my house dive bombing the potatoes and left over meat from last night! birds of prey everywhere in Cambridgeshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich 1970 Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Loads of buzzards circling over Bobbington today, including over the main pigeon roost in the woods across the road from the vinyard. The pigeons don't seem to pay them any attention. I have seen buzzards take rabbits caught unaware and imagine they take pigeons caught feeding on the ground, although I have never seen this happen. I have seen them swoop on decoys and also take those shot pigeons I leave for them. I believe the buzzard to be more of a scavenger and as such presents no problem to pigeon populations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 As i write this 2 red kites are circling my house dive bombing the potatoes and left over meat from last night! birds of prey everywhere in Cambridgeshire There was a few Red kites circling where i was aswell last week , stunning birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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