Highlander Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Validation of a population model that predicts woodpigeon numbers resulting from changes in agricultural practice or licencing regulations. DEFRA code. VC0112 Project end date. 31/03/05 The hatching and fledging success at all sites were very variable but of the same order. These data were used together with BTO Ringing Recovery Records for the woodpigeon to develop a computer model of the likely effects of seasonal changes in shooting pressure on woodpigeon numbers. There has since the 1980s been a gradual shift away from shooting this species predominately during the winter months, to more shooting during the summer months. Shooting in the summer removes breeding birds, resulting in desertion of the nest by the remaining member of the pair and egg or nestling predation. Thus summer shooting could have far more effect upon numbers than winter shooting. The model predicts that if the balance of shooting shifts away from 60% in the winter to 60% in the summer, with the total shooting effort remaining the same, the woodpigeon population will show a gradual decline in numbers. This could have implications for both the current General Licence status of this species and its ranking within the Farmland Birds Index. So you lot 'd better stop shooting in the summer or we won't have any birds left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 lol, ****** that Thought the general idea was to thin them out anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Do you honestly think these people make these numbers up?? Sitting around thinking...ummm, who shall we pis$s off today?!? I bet they do a darnt sight more research than you! Around here we don't see many pigeons, I know that that is different in other parts of the country, but these people are in a position to look at the country as a whole. Now they havent put in recommendations yet, but it may well be that they say that pigeon shooting in certain areas of the country is limited (my personal preference). But I would suggest to listen to what they have to say, otherwise it's our sport that will suffer. Just one man's opinon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invector Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Computer models - garbage in, garbage out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 If pigeons are an agricultural pest, why are they concerned that there numbers might reduce ? Isn't that why we are shooting them on a general licence ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 If pigeons are an agricultural pest, why are they concerned that there numbers might reduce ?Isn't that why we are shooting them on a general licence ? Yes but who knows if they prove the population is declining due to shooting they might then push for a closed season (something always in the background) or an outright ban. Actually it's probably more a question of at what level (of decline) they might consider doing so By the way this study has been ongoing for over 40 years so computer **** or not they must have learned one hell of a lot about Woody! Certainly more than your average pigeon shooter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 I think the boffins who recon to be studying woody need to justify their own positions and so they regularly churn out meaningless info. BTO bird counts on pigeons have proved farcical and the ringing campaigns since Murton's days never produced the returns they hoped for. Here in Yorkshire there are big woodpigeon numbers but at the minute they are not hurting agriculture mainly eating clover and similar. If anyone wants to see a phenomina take a drive to the famous Cow and Calf rocks near Ilkley,West Yorkshire and watch the woodys feeding on the bilberries! Bring on July and lets get into them stoggies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conygree Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 We had a massive w/pigeon population shooting didn't reduce them but last summer the infection caused a total crash in numbers. I would say the shooting has remained constant throughout, but now the numbers are up again. This is observed on both a large shooting estate and my back garden. My point is computor models are only as good as the correct info going in - may I suggest these geeks get out more and open their eyes and observe - dare I say reality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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