Protected Pigeons

[BLACK]

Chaps,

 

I can tell the difference between a stock dove and a woodpigeon. But having studied a lot of photos I am left with the feeling that the Rock Dove or Blue Rock could easily be mistaken for a feral. Am I right or am I missing something?

 

Thanks

[THE AD]

Yes your right we had that discussion yesterday that's why i don't shoot ferals with the shotie. Not many stockies left.

[Cranfield]

Depending upon your location, what you are calling "Rock Dove or Blue Rock" are probably Stock Doves.

 

Rock Doves inhabit mainly sea cliffs and mountain areas and is now found only along the north and west coasts of Scotland , offshore islands and on Northern Ireland coasts.

 

This is a Stock Dove and they can be confused with ferals.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?gs_rn=26&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=x_Tt4CQa0Td_r0oyioVypA&pq=rock+doves&cp=1&gs_id=1e&xhr=t&q=stock+doves&safe=off&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51495398,d.d2k&biw=1280&bih=601&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=RIQfUtPYOc2c0wXhtYDYBA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=OgJw7UGAC28BAM%3A%3BShslvDmkceEm4M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rspb.org.uk%252FImages%252Fstodo_tcm9-18467.jpg%253Fwidth%253D530%2526crop%253D(308%252C476%252C1444%252C1114)%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rspb.org.uk%252Fstockdove%3B530%3B298

 

 

[BLACK]

^{http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/rockdove/index.aspx}

 

^{Many thanks Guys. I think I'm pretty sure of the stock dove these days although I have seen people mistake them for a young woody and have enlightened a number of otherwise very responsible shooters.}

 

^{The real issue for me is illustrated by the link. Is it a Rock Dove (protected) or a Feral (not protected. RSPB appear to suggest that it is both.}

[BLACK]

Further to my last does this mean that anything that looks like the bird in the link is a feral if its not in the geographic areas listed by Cranfield? In other words if its in a stubble field or a barn in N Yorkshire its feral and fair game?

[Fisherman Mike]

Where are you.?..I would be very surprised to see a Rock Dove inland because as Cranfield correctly pointed out they are coastal dwellers. Its actually quite easy to distinguish a feral from a stock in flight, the stock is a more direct flyer and slightly smaller... If you are unsure then don't pull the trigger because if you do you and you inadvertently kill a stock you will be committing an offence.

 

I'm dismayed at the number of our members that cannot distinguish a Feral from a Stock dove...but then again I've been a birdwatcher for over 50 years.

 

If there are a lot of ferals in the area where you shoot its likely hat those coming to the decoys readily are Feral...Stock doves do Buzz decoys occasionally but in my experience they are solitary and generally disinterested.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Fisherman Mike

[BLACK]

Hi,

 

I'm not far from Scotch corner. We do have a fair number of stock doves up here. They will be around 10% of what comes to the decoys hence its very important that they are recognised and not assumed to be a "young woody". I'm happy now that the feral pigeons we shoot actually are feral pigeons and not Rock doves as we are well outside their range. Unless of course they drift across with the gulls.......

[Dazza9t9]

I'm based near ripon and we have a fair few rocks, had a few come into my decoys yesterday