Old Boggy Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Whilst watching Gardeners World the other day, Monty Don mentioned that birds (not necessarily pigeons) tend to go for brighter coloured (orange and red) berries before then turning to darker (black and purple) ones. I'd not previously given this much thought, but it does reinforce what I am currently finding, that the few pigeons that I have shot recently have had hawthorn berries in their crops in lieu of ivy berries. Obviously pigeons, being opportunist birds will, at this time of year and to conserve energy, feed on any available food nearest to their roosting woods. This may explain why they have recently totally ignored one of my favourite little woods with trees covered in ivy, for roadside hedgerows where hawthorn berries (or should that be just Haws - JDog to advise). Anyone else finding similar ? OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Hips are produced by all roses in some form or other. The ones produced by wild roses are the ones seen in hedgerows. Haws are produced on all varieties of Crateagus shrubs or Hawthorns. I’ve always just called them haws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Pigeons are on the Hawthorne here. They tend to go for the ivy in January and February. I think that it is more likely to be when the berries are ripe, rather than colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benbaikal Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Yes the pigeons were on the berries all week on the way to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 I watched them feed all day on two Holly bushes on Saturday. Holly in my memory was always the last to be eaten so they must be desperate bearing in mind these are city pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 they have been feeding on holly berries all week at the back of my garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 seen them on the acorns round here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Good numbers of pigeon have been feeding on this Ilex all day today. The shrub behind it laden with berries is a Cotoneaster. I have yet to see pigeons eating those fruits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 19 hours ago, JDog said: Good numbers of pigeon have been feeding on this Ilex all day today. The shrub behind it laden with berries is a Cotoneaster. I have yet to see pigeons eating those fruits. The blackbirds love the berries on the cotoneaster outside our dining room window and are a joy to watch at close quarters. As you note JDog, wood pigeons although quite tame on our bird table and on clover on the lawn have never shown any interest in the cotoneaster. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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