I wonder if this new variety of brassica will appear in next year's seed catalogues. It's a cabbage aptly named Pesky Pigeon. It's a novelty variety having hardly any leaves at all! You could be unintentionally trying it out next year. Or maybe you have already grown it this year like us.
Today as we netted our crops the vandals watched us from the telegraph wires. No doubt they were watching for any weakness in our defences and would dash down to investigate as soon as the site was quiet.
Let us know if where you garden has seen an increase in marauding pigeons and what you do to beat them!
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Just been reading a bit on the web about wood pigeons and wanted to share a quote:
ReplyDelete"Since the 1970s the population (of wood pigeons) has increased rapidly, which may be a result of the expansion of intensive arable farming and in particular oilseed rape."
If you read the video diaries on the web site you will know by now what I think of oil-seed rape. I now have just another reason to think the huge amount grown in our fields is a bad thing!!!
I don't think it's just pigeons, there seems to be plenty of Doves watching and waiting. Think an air rifle or 3 should do the trick, followed by a casserole! It's either that or we try to encourage hawks on site.
ReplyDeleteThere are collared doves around but everything that I have read about them says that their diet is confined to seeds and grains so I don't think we can blame them. If you have proof that this is wrong then I will stand corrected.
ReplyDeleteAlso people have reported seeing wood pigeons in flocks on the plots.
It is a bit like the death penalty isn't it - it's too late to find out that the wrong bird has been blamed after shooting them.
We already have quite a few hawks (especially sparrowhawks)that patrol the site and I am sure the pigeon men would be upset if they started taking their homing pigeons.