malkiserow Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I was wondering a few things..... What radial distance does a pigeon travel from a roost ? Do they stay within a given area? when they change roost will it be local or anywhere ? Why do they appear to eat gravel? this kind of stuff and much more ...... Any one any ideas? Malk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dusk2dawn Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I was wondering a few things..... What radial distance does a pigeon travel from a roost ? Do they stay within a given area? when they change roost will it be local or anywhere ? Why do they appear to eat gravel? this kind of stuff and much more ...... Any one any ideas? Malk Sounds as though you have been sitting in a hide for too long on your own Their movements depend alot on the time of year, I have found during the summer they all tend to feed at first light then in dribs and drabs all day with much time spent in between just sitting and cooing to each other,if its hot then water is the best site to flight them on at this time. Now during the short daylight hours of winter is a different story when food is short and they feed all day. Good shooting as they come to a roosting site 3/4pm jan feb usually in a nearby plantation of conifers not too far from the food source. D2D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I was wondering a few things..... What radial distance does a pigeon travel from a roost ? Do they stay within a given area? when they change roost will it be local or anywhere ? Why do they appear to eat gravel? this kind of stuff and much more ...... Any one any ideas? Malk I can help with the gravel one birds take gravel into there crops to help break down the food, acts to grind it up as they have no teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 I was wondering a few things..... What radial distance does a pigeon travel from a roost ? Depends where the best and safest food source is. Do they stay within a given area? As above. when they change roost will it be local or anywhere ? anywhere that is cosy and within a good food producing area Why do they appear to eat gravel? To fill their gizzards with grit to grind their food. this kind of stuff and much more ...... Any one any ideas? Malk Just my opinion and generally not proven fact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujijon Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Here where I am in n .Wilts I have been out and about over the years long before I took up shooting - never to this day have I seen flocks of pigeon - only a handful of birds / two pairs etc at a time . This is good arable farmland so where are all the pigeons ..? I drove up to Hereford one day , and knew immedialtely I was in good pigeon country - the roadside Caf , had 'Pigeon Pie' offered on its billboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted August 25, 2007 Report Share Posted August 25, 2007 Sounds like my day shooting in Suffolk y'day. I was shooting over rape stubble and had a well placed hide, a magnet, bouncer and well spread decoys. Lack of wind and periodic misty rain seemed to keep pigeons away. No flocks around just scattered birds. So I went home with three. Still, it was a day out in the field and not in the office. Another two weeks before I can get the time to go again! But the birds are in the freezer so it wasn't a wasted day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 I often see several pigeons flying in a disjointed group, a pair here and there and a fews singles. the only flocks i have ever seen are those that are on the ground feeding in a crop and then a few will get up together, a dozen or more and fly a few hundred years and pitch back down in a nother art of the field. i witnessed this on standing wheat a few weks back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Malk if you know where there's a roost then get there at first light and follow the birds to their feeding grounds. Simple but not for the idle shooter! All birds need grit, not gravel, to grind their food inside their gizzards that's why you'll see numbers on the road sides during the day. They feed then grit then digest then drink. There's not been much research done of late on Woody but you can get a copy of the Murton Report from the 60's (I think) that gives lots of insight into Woodys habits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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