BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="ChrisKten" data-source="post: 3656779" data-attributes="member: 69033">I'll just post once in this thread, because I cut my teeth on 4chan years ago, so I know what's coming from a certain poster <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />If there's a regular food source near or below trees, Feral Pigeons will perch in the trees - feed them at regular intervals, and they'll stay in the trees all day (I do this regularly to annoy my neighbours <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> ). As soon as the Sun sets, the Pigeons will leave the trees for their regular roosts... under bridges/ledges on buildings etc... anywhere that in some way resembles a ledge of a Cliff. Even a sick bird that's unwilling to fly far and has been in a tree all day, will try to fly to the nearest ledge at Dusk (a nearby window sill in the case of my trees).So, unless there are Feral Pigeons being fed very close to the trees, the birds in the story will be Wood Pigeons.Just to be clear, the list of Birds classed as "Vermin" is a long one - Companies dealing with "control" (starts with deterrents, ends with killing) of such "Vermin" are numerous and not all even know what Animal Welfare means. Some "Vermin" on the list:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Feral Pigeons (thanks mainly to Ken Livingstone) House Sparrows Mallards Geese (especially Canada and Greylag) Gulls (All of them apart from Herring Gull IIRC) Starlings Magpies Collared Doves Wood Pigeons</li> </ul>To be clear, not all of the above are officially classed as Vermin, but all are controlled/deterred to varying degrees because they cause a "nuisance" - all are protected under <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents" target="_blank">The Animal Welfare Act 2006</a>. I suspect the list of "Vermin" will grow over time, as appreciating and enjoying Wildlife is often replaced by tolerating Wildlife. Years ago, the first close contact children had with Nature, was "feeding the birds" - whether Pigeons in Trafalgar Square or Ducks in the local Park... I wonder what contact future children will have.</blockquote>

Verification