Asking Pigeons Nicely To Go Away

[franklin]

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/03/03...ngland-consults-on-shooting-of-crop-pests.htm

Thought I would try this out. This morning I politely asked a group of pigeons, who were loitering on my land with intent to eat, if they would please remain in their designated (grant funded) wooded areas and wild bird areas and eat their abundant small seeds etc. They chose to nip off into the neighbours field for a few minutes however they are now back.

I am not sure if the NE proposals would endorse a "3 strikes and your out" system, but I have filled in a note in my logbook:

Date: 03/03/14
Identifiable marks: Generally grey, mean eyes.
Warning given: Flapping of arms and emplored them to find lodgings elsewhere.
Reaction of nature: General disdain.

As a gesture of good will, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt in the hope that witnessing my good grace will spur the vermin to change their ways. Otherwise, I suspect the next NE guidance will be hugging them and asking them to join me for tea and scones.

Seriously Natural England / Environment Agency / Any other quango. I know you are desperate to find something to do to avoid any proper work, but this is perhaps taking the pee. Not even April 1st.

But as usual, please farmers respond to this, or they will get 1,000,000 RSPB members putting their oars in and we will be a laughing stock.

 

[roscoe erf]

http://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/it-just-gets-worse.18651/

 

[llamedos]

Brilliant

 

[exmoor dave]

just read it in yesterdays paper

so when having problems with crows feasting on still alive cast ewes, am i spose to call the local crovid population in for a round table discussion and politely say, would you old chaps please refrain from peaking my sheeps eyes out and draging their guts out their arses!


do these people even relise that birds fly? that they cover a wide area? that they know where food is and will keep coming back for more?

 

[Sussex Martin]

Just put some signs up saying 'Corvids found loitering with intent are liable to be shot, you have been warned' this will prove that asking politly has had no effect on their actions so shooting is the only remedy.

 

[Feldspar]

Looking at the consultation document the relevant proposal is Proposal 31(a). The relevant question is: "Question 31(a): Are you aware of any reasons why the change outlined in Proposal 31(a) should not be made?"

The old wording is this:

"In respect to the species listed in paragraph 2(i)(a) above, the licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate legal methods of resolving the problem such as scaring or proofing are either ineffective or impracticable."

The proposed wording is this:

"In respect to the species listed in paragraph 2(i)(a) above, the licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person has taken reasonable and appropriate steps to resolve the problem, such as scaring or proofing."

The email address to respond to is [email protected].

 

[Feldspar]

I suppose if you have a gas gun on the farm or put any form of twirling device out then this will constitue a reasonable and appropriate attempt to scare. Any pigeons on the farm after that can be legitimately shot. They better not try and claim that proofing is a reasonable or appropriate step!

Have they not assessed the population of wood pigeons and realised that there are rather too many?!

 

[llamedos]

There do seem to be some things that need responding to If I understand this correctly it could be proposed by many of the concerned parties.

 

[nick...]

Ive been out shooing the crows of my crops today as advised in the daily mail yesterday.its saving me a fortune in cartridges
Nick...

 

[topground]

Will Natural England run courses on shooing? I politely told some crows to F off this morning and I was ignored.

 

[Pete]

Shooing permission wanted, fully insured, all pigeons, corvids and crops respected.

 

[Shearer stu]

i always try to scare crows away with first barrel

 

[Honest john]

I am going to stop reading this thread. It should carry a health warning.

 

[exmoor dave]

i always try to scare crows away with first barrel

With my shooting skills both barrels only scare the buggers!

 

[fingermouse]

Being urban fringe ,gas guns and twerley things tend to get nicked round here , also I don't think the massive flock of pigeons munching on my osr this morning grasped my diplomatic means of moving them on. Unless some kind sole from Natural England wants to fill there day in and come and patrol my fast disappearing crop and maybe talk them away ,I feel I have no choice other than to give them a little encouragement to move on with a few er warning shots

 

[JCfarmer]

Unbelievable, before you know it the pest controllers in towns will be told to catch rats alive and release them in the countryside!!! This country is insane and we are becoming the laughing stock in Europe!

 

[roscoe erf]

Unbelievable, before you know it the pest controllers in towns will be told to catch rats alive and release them in the countryside!!! This country is insane and we are becoming the laughing stock in Europe!

what do you mean becoming

 

[tullah]

I put it all down to the Liberal weirdos.

 

[grumpy]

get major archie coats on the job

 

[Clive]

Unbelievable, before you know it the pest controllers in towns will be told to catch rats alive and release them in the countryside!!! This country is insane and we are becoming the laughing stock in Europe!

Errrr.............. they already do this with urban foxes around here, we are over run with them