Legislation

Tel’ the Teacher – To shoot, or not to shoot? That is the question

Long-term reader, Bradley Timmett, is ‘plagued by pigeons’. He has the skill and the hardware to tackle the problem, but his priority, quite rightly, is to remain on the right side of the law. Here’s Bradley’s question.

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Hi, Terry. I’ve been reading your articles in Airgun World for many years, and I’m sure you’ll be able to put me right on a situation I’m experiencing at home. My garden is absolutely plagued by wood pigeons, to the extent that my four bird tables are rarely visited by any other species, apart from the occasional starling. The woodies are always squabbling amongst themselves, and sometimes the ‘clapping’ of their wings as they fight is genuinely annoying. A year or so ago, my bird tables attracted finches, tits, sparrows, and doves, but now these smaller species just can’t compete with the flock of pigeons, so they’ve abandoned my garden completely.

It’s ironic that I shoot dozens of wood pigeons on my two permissions, and the farmers are very happy with my efforts, but I’m hesitant to sort out what is a real pigeon problem at my own house!

I suspect I know what I can’t do, but I’d like you to confirm it, along with any advice on reducing the problem by means other than shooting.

Thanks, Terry, and please keep up the good work.

Brad.’

IF YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN ….

Bradley, the fact that you’re checking before shooting is entirely to your credit, as well as being in full accordance with the basic rules of shooting legally and safely. Now let me confirm what you already know; you can’t shoot those pigeons. To do so, our laws require that you need to be protecting crops, and that you’ve tried ‘other means’ before shooting. Let’s study those ‘other means’, then.

SONGBIRD SPECIFIC

Like you, Bradley, I have several feeding stations for the birds in my garden, and just like you, my main bird table is dominated by wood pigeons, who seem to be more intent on fighting than feeding.

The first thing I did was to change the nature of the food I give the birds, and the feeders that dispense it. Wood pigeons tend to avoid mealworms, tiny seeds and seed balls, especially when these are presented on smaller feeders which the woodies find difficult to use. There are lots of feeders designed to accommodate smaller birds, and these really work.

MAKE THE CHANGES

A mate of mine surrounds his bird tables in wide-gauge mesh that keeps out pigeons, but allows smaller birds through to the food. He tells me that it took ‘a few weeks’ for the pigeons to be dissuaded from turning up for a feed, but the penny dropped eventually, and now my friend is feeding his beloved songbirds and sparrows, once more.

Basically, if you don’t want your garden dominated by pigeons, you need to change the terms of the hospitality you’re currently providing. It really is that simple, Bradley, and far better than risking falling foul of the law.

All the best – and well done, again, for doing the right thing.