Worst-ever year for pigeon damage

[Baldrick]

I saw the following article in Farmers Weekly. It certainly rings true on the farms I shoot over, where some fields of OSR have been stripped bare (and it's not for lack of trying to control the damned birds).

 

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/03/17/1...to-oilseed.html

[anser2]

The dammage to rape is bad here in Norfolk too. Some fields have been ploughed and reseeded with spring corn. I watched 5-6 thousand decend on a 2 foot high rape field last week and in a day reduced it down to a couple of inches. I was shooting on a field close by and only managed to draw a few birds onto my field. The pigeon seem to be targeting the flower buds as well as leaves and even growing soft stems.

 

I think a major problem in Norfolk is that there were almost no acorns this year so the pigeons switched onto rape in October and have never realy left it in my area. I have yet to shot a pigeon on drillings this year. Some of the farmers in my area are pulling their hair out , useing bag , banger and wind mill scarers with little effect. I was shooting on a field last week with all 3 of these scarers and the pigeons still came sailing into my decoys ( Some scarers within 50 yards of the decoys ). My suggestion to one farmer that I find some help from this forum was greeted with a luke warm reception to say the least. The pheasant rules in my area and you have to be in the know to get on any of the farms.

Edited March 18, 2008 by anser2

[Baldrick]

Exactly the same scenario down here on my permissions in Essex, Anser.

[Highlander]

and with OSR reaching nearly £400 a tonne the financial cost to farming is deadly serious! Maybe there's gonna be money in pigeon shooting yet!!!

[al4x]

its been the same here yet very few good days to be had as a couple of shots seems to clear them for the day as there are so many fields of rape to choose from

[Country Boy]

Pigeons ignoring drillings in favour of rape in Yorkshire, 200+ bag at the weekend!

C.B.