Wood Pigeons stripping my tree!

[LeighW]

I know, first world problems and all that, but the damn wood pigeons are stripping all the leaves off my Cherry Plum tree, any ideas how to stop them? We often get wood pigeons in the garden, but they've never touched the tree before this year.

The internet suggests netting, but the tree is at least 15 feet tall, so that's a no go. I don't want to kill them, I may have taken the odd pop at them with my BB gun (just plastic BBs) , but unless you score a direct hit, the buggers don't flinch, and they soon come back anyway. The neighbours will start to think I'm slightly mental if I keep on running down the garden shouting and waving at the trees...

Any sensible (and stupid) suggestions welcome, it really is annoying me. Here's a pic of the top of the tree (poor quality using a phone on zoom, but you get the gist). Only the ends of the branches where they are too thin to support the pigeons' weight are untouched.

Edited by LeighW on Thursday 28th April 23:45

[LeadFarmer]

Pesky wood pigeons are also stripping my Victoria plum tree of the buds & flowers. I think when nesting season has ended I will shoot them.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 28th April 23:45

[Murph7355]

Kill them. Flesh wounds with BB guns are not cool on wild animals.

I have a bunch of the bds stting on a car. They aren't long for this world.

[defblade]

Murph7355 said:

Kill them.

And eat them. Woodie breast is lovely. Airgunbbs for hints and tips.

[LeighW]

Murph7355 said:

Kill them. Flesh wounds with BB guns are not cool on wild animals.

Mine wouldn't even mess their feathers up. Having shot myself in the hand with it by accident (don't ask... ), and it not even breaking the skin, I know it won't hurt them at 45 feet. It's not air powered, just spring.

[Mr GrimNasty]

I had no problems until 3 or 4 years ago, now I've chopped down my cherry and Victoria plum as the pigeons destroyed them, I counted nearly 35 in the tree one evening, Bill Oddie reckons they are harmless and misrepresented (but then he is a bit weird).

I'm afraid it is a mass cull or nets, once they decide a particular tree is food, they just keep coming back day after day and year after year and they invite all their friends too.

[pattieG]

Get a shotgun. You don't even need to fire it as long as they see it they will fly away.

[Panthro]

They're doing this to my neighbours tree, but not mine as I'm building an extension near the tree and it's too noisy for them. Whenever I go out the back and see them in the tree I just shout and they get scared off. I'd get a BB gun if I were you.

[Simon Brooks]

might upset the locals, but the 'pesky pigeon' will definitely get the message loud and clear !!!

[Mr GrimNasty]

Panthro said:

They're doing this to my neighbours tree, but not mine as I'm building an extension near the tree and it's too noisy for them. Whenever I go out the back and see them in the tree I just shout and they get scared off. I'd get a BB gun if I were you.

They come back as soon as you go away, they even have appointed reconnaissance pilots who do regular checks, and if you spend all day chasing them off they just get up earlier than you, in the summer they've got hours of chomping time before anybody is up.

[PBDirector]

we're plagued with the bl**dy things. My thought is air rifle - but I was told they're a protected species?

[MKnight702]

PBDirector said:

I was told they're a protected species?

Wood pigeons? Flying vermin, blast away my friend.

[Halb]

Get a cat?

[LeadFarmer]

If your going to shoot them, and I'm not telling you not to, then please don't do it during nesting season or young chicks may starve. Wait till after nesting season and then you will also have more pigeons to shoot

[PBDirector]

MKnight702 said:

Wood pigeons? Flying vermin, blast away my friend.

LeadFarmer said:

If your going to shoot them, and I'm not telling you not to, then please don't do it during nesting season or young chicks may starve.

noted.

[LeighW]

Halb said:

Get a cat?

I've got one. Does he look like he can be arsed to chase birds? He might squeak at them through the window - if he can be bothered.



I don't want to kill them either, I just want them to leave my tree alone. However, I've not seen them attack it for two days now, they're too busy humping each other on the roof or fence.

[Silent1]

PBDirector said:

MKnight702 said:

Wood pigeons? Flying vermin, blast away my friend.

LeadFarmer said:

If your going to shoot them, and I'm not telling you not to, then please don't do it during nesting season or young chicks may starve.

noted.

also a sub 12 ft/lbs (in other words non licenced) air rifle will most likely just maim them, unless you get a good head shot so either don't shoot them or take this as your incentive to apply for a firearms certificate and get a rimfire .22 rifle.

[the_lone_wolf]

LeighW said:

I've got one. Does he look like he can be arsed to chase birds? He might squeak at them through the window - if he can be bothered.

Bring me Solo and the wookie!!! They will pay for this outrage...

[All that jazz]

LeighW said:

I've got one. Does he look like he can be arsed to chase birds? He might squeak at them through the window - if he can be bothered.



I don't want to kill them either, I just want them to leave my tree alone. However, I've not seen them attack it for two days now, they're too busy humping each other on the roof or fence.

LOL @ the cat's face. I can see him ending up on a meme generator site.

[Druid]

LeadFarmer said:

If your going to shoot them, and I'm not telling you not to, then please don't do it during nesting season or young chicks may starve. Wait till after nesting season and then you will also have more pigeons to shoot

Woodpigeons have a very long breeding season. Although their main nesting period is between April and October, they have been recorded breeding in every month of the year.

Shoot them all year round.