Any bird lovers or ornithologists here?

[lifesagasman]

wildlife and countryside act 1981.

pigeons are wild birds

 

[regsmyth]

Pigeons are classed as pests and can be shot.

All of the air rifle websites say so!!

Having said that, I don't think it's likely the op is going to get into that, especially in a fairly built up area.

I think his wire cage solution will be the best bet. The pigeons will probably end up going elsewhere.

 

[regsmyth]

And as an afterthought, the bits of food left lying around on the lawn will probably attract rats, and shooting rats is much more fun! (Er.. so I'm told)

 

[Big Tone]

Thanks Alison, some things there I hadn’t thought of doing but I will try. I have an old knackered conventional wooden bird tree I could resurrect so I’ll get on to it this week or just build the ultimate one myself which seats a hundred...

I did start with the bird tree in the centre of the garden thinking, as you said, they can see all around but empirically I noticed the birds seemed to prefer nearer the hedge for quick cover and protection I think. So I moved the tree closer to the hedge where they look and hop on the open feeding tray in my picture with a quick retreat if necessary.

I guess I need to start thinking more like a bird and less like a human. I would want an open vista to see all around, especially if I had my eyes on the side of my head, but I guess evolution has told them differently. As lifesagasman knew or observed some actually like scratching around under shrubs; I’ve noticed this too.

Oh BTW I don’t want to shoot anything and I hope I didn’t infer this. I wouldn’t want to hurt a pigeon but if I can prevent or scare them off I’m up for that. It’s like that joke Robin Williams once told about war: Men invented the A-Bomb but women would never make a bomb which kills; they would however make one which makes you feel bad for a while.

I wouldn’t mind something to make pigeons feel bad for a while so they remember to keep off; a naughty step – or would it be a naughty branch.

What bugs me is some pigeons are quite pretty but they’re ubiquitous and treat my offerings like an all you can eat buffet. Oh and the quantity of poop is directionally proportional to the size of the animal of course, especially when I scare them off.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all comments and help. Still haven't ruled out my wire tent idea for the ground feeders...

Tony

 

[ColJack]

what distance did you shoot from? what pellet size, what spring pressure?

Dad's rifle ( the one he shoots at the pigeons with anyway ) is a target rifle with a weak spring, bird table about 20m from where he sits.
it barely marks the wood of the bird table from that distance..

 

[Big Tone]

what distance did you shoot from? what pellet size, what spring pressure?

Dad's rifle ( the one he shoots at the pigeons with anyway ) is a target rifle with a weak spring, bird table about 20m from where he sits.
it barely marks the wood of the bird table from that distance..

Well, at the risk of doing a major topic drift...

.22 and ~20 feet away Coljack; I want them close to observe and enjoy.

At 20 Metres I would need binoculars and it would be somewhere at the bottom, or beyond, my garden where there is a cat run each and every day. So I put it close to my back door but the truth is they are happy to come right up to my door when I put grub there so that’s not a problem for me or the birds, except my problem with pigeons.

I don't know about the springing of the rifle but when my friend used it he said it knocks spots of his, which he always regarded as the best. I have not modified it BTW but I don't like talking guns because I honestly bought it only because shooting targets is great fun and that is all I have ever done with it.

I lived in America and felt safer over there than I would here in Birmingham in some places I know.

I’ve got a wicked hand type too, also German, with 0.177, 0.22 and a much bigger one I don’t know the bore of and I have never seen pellets for. It just so happens my rifle is the dogs danglies, he tells me, and it's a shame others ruin it for the sensible majority with their stupid behaviour and I'm sure this country will ban them in time but that's how it always goes... The few spoiling it for the majority of the sensible; just like speeding always kills but don't get me going on that one

Back on topic...

I don’t want to hurt pigeons or anything. I put spiders out and wouldn’t dream of killing one. They are just living their life and I see enough pain and suffering in my job without adding to it. That said, I would happily stab Ian Huntley in the neck, but someone beat me to it...

So then, pigeons and how to defeat them without being cruel...

 

[ColJack]

speed never kills.. inertia does...

 

[Big Tone]

speed never kills.. inertia does...

Agreed

Given that pigeons have such good eyesight, would a scarecrow also scare pigeons I wonder?

The other birds don't seem to be as clever or have such good vision so perhaps that would work.

Gotta find some rags, straw and a hat and two broom handles now...

 

[Big Tone]

Pigeons are classed as pests and can be shot.

All of the air rifle websites say so!!

Having said that, I don't think it's likely the op is going to get into that, especially in a fairly built up area.

I think his wire cage solution will be the best bet. The pigeons will probably end up going elsewhere.

You're right, I wouldn't want to shoot them and even if legal it could be upsetting and worrying for the neighbours.

I do think a wire enclosure of the right hole size could work if the small birds are not put off passing through just by the look of it.

And as an afterthought, the bits of food left lying around on the lawn will probably attract rats, and shooting rats is much more fun! (Er.. so I'm told)

Nudge nudge, say no more

I did wonder that and although I've never seen any they say you are never meant to be further than six feet from one.

I divorced the last one I saw

 

[lifesagasman]

i'm off to France for a couple of weeks. I'll bring you back a buzzard. they don't socialise with pigeons.

 

[oompah]

I'll bring you back a buzzard. they don't socialise with pigeons.

They do its the pigeons that keep leaving.

 

[EddieM]

Never had a problem with pigeons, but I guess they are more a town dweller? We have a breeding pair in the garden, they're cool.

 

[Big Tone]

i'm off to France for a couple of weeks. I'll bring you back a buzzard. they don't socialise with pigeons.

Well here's my first effort, just to test the water. I don't really want to use bricks, because it will restrict their view, but they're the ones with holes in and gaps in between so I hope they won't mind.

I died the death of a thousand snips but I hope I've got the hole sizes about right. Too small for them but large enough for blackbirds etc.

I'm getting quite exicted.

 

[Big Tone]

Never had a problem with pigeons, but I guess they are more a town dweller? We have a breeding pair in the garden, they're cool.

Oh I agree. I once went to a rural farm for children with pigs and allsorts, as well as birds. I said to one of the staff "One of them has escaped". She said "That's not one of ours, it's a wild pigeon".

But I tell you it was beautiful with amazing rich colours. The trouble, like you say, is the city dwellers are a nuisance and there's millions of them.

This morning I put out yet more seeds, mealworms and peanuts but five of the bloody things were tucking in. They scoffed all the nuts I put there for the blackbirds They’re just taking the pi$$ now.

Oh I didn't mean the "farm for children" was keeping children BTW

 

[Big Tone]

It worked!

I was unhappy with the bricks restricting the view for them and any potential predator taking advantage of that, so I formed it into a cage and anchored it to the ground.

I saw pigeons this morning right next to it looking-on completely dumfounded.

I wish I could have got a picture of them but they can spot me from Mars.

Do I get a DIY gold star or anything? Again, thanks to all for your help and information.

Tony