If you read Martyn's blog you will know that the wood pigeons on our site are not content with devastating brassicas but have now set their sights higher - a lot higher. They have decided to snip the immature fruits off our plum tree and they may even have had something to do with the sorry state of our cherry tree.
On a recent visit to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park I think we may have come across the ultimate deterrent.
Not only would it deter wood pigeons but any would be watering can thief would be dispatched with impunity.
Other than the obvious pitfall of having this beautiful creature on our plot, and the fact that I doubt that the council would give the extra permission needed for keeping animals other than rabbits and chickens, we would have problems tracking down such an animal.
This is an Amur or Siberian tiger is one of the most endangered animals in the world. Yorkshire Wildlife Park houses three tigers in what it claims to be the largest tiger 'enclosure' in Europe. It's hoped that the tigers will become part of a breeding programme.
I've popped more of the photos taken on the tigers on my Facebook Page here.
If you are interested I also have some photos of other Yorkshire Wildlife Park residents in this Facebook Album
If you are interested I also have some photos of other Yorkshire Wildlife Park residents in this Facebook Album
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We are troubled with pigeons and rabbits for the first time this year. I am going to have to net against the pigeons, but the rabbits may be more difficult to deter. I always net the brassicas against the cabbage white, but looks like I am going to have to net the peas too. What a drag!
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have to cover everything don't FiD we?
DeleteHaha! I think it would be a great solution to your problem. A bit scarry though... ;)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it just, Aga?
DeleteI'm very impressed that you managed to get photos of the tiger actually eating the watering-can thief! :)
ReplyDeleteSadly we were too late to save him/her, Mark
DeleteThat's one helluva sized pigeon it caught.
ReplyDeleteThat's the watering can thief, Elaine
DeleteThey are absolutely beautiful, we could definitely do with one of those at our site. There are some shed vandals that need eating.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful animals which it would be criminal to lose, CJ. I'm sure a shed vandal would go down a treat.
DeleteI used to read in British books of bird damage. It seems rather strange on this side of the Atlantic because in over 30 years, I have never seen a bird attack seedlings. They do attack fruit, but not small plants (having said that, perhaps they will start tomorrow!). Not that we do not have our own pests. I would exchange problem birds with raccoons any day.
ReplyDeleteWood Pigeons will totally devastate large plants too, Alain. Some places also get rabbits, and deer eating everything in sight.
DeleteOooooh....just imagine that specimen prowling the plot! What a magnificent cat, gives you goosebumps to see them close up.xxx
ReplyDeleteAs long as I could select the targets. Snowbird. It was a beauty we watched it for ages.
DeleteThat's huge tiger! It will become very good solution but a scary one!
ReplyDeleteI guess it would be difficult to control, Malar
DeleteYou had altogether too much fun putting that together Sue! But then, if I was faced with losing precious fruit to pigeons, I would be similarly tempted... I imagine the allotment committe would have something to say though...
ReplyDeleteDo you mean to say that you don't believe that there actually was a tiger on our plot, Janet? Actually we haven't a committee so I may get away with it until the council found out.
DeleteSo sad that you feel this way about Wood pigeons because of your plants
ReplyDeleteThe post was only joky, Janet - we'd not harm them and in the garden away from crops we even feed them
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