They're wildlife ... they're eating some lilac leaves ... what's the problem? They won't totally denude it ... what are they supposed to eat? At least they're not eating my broccoli
Pointing laser pens skywards can get you into severe trouble with the police and the aviation authorities ....
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Pigeons are an absolute PITA around here, their numbers have definitely increased in the last few years. However, l don't think pointing a laser pen at them is a wise thing to do. Personally l find the slightest sudden noise or a flapping towel sends them rocketing off. That's not to say they don't come back of course, but it keeps me fit.
I'm afraid that's not an option - it's a 15 year old tree!!!!! Can't net or fleece a tree that's at least 15 feet talk. Wish it was as easy as that. Horrible flying rats!!!!
I have found a solution this year. Wood pigeons also strip my unripe cherries. Solution!! Water balloons. I put two where they were sitting and only took one to burst and hey presto!!!! Wood pigeons no more 😝 didn't want to hurt them, just didn't want them destroying my cherry 🍒
Lived in this house for 16 years & this last 3 weeks the wood pigeons have almost stripped the old laburnum of is leaves. They have never done it before, although one or two often roost in it overnight. They have in the past laid waste to the veg plot so we've netted that for several years. Normally if I get anywhere near the laburnum in the evening the pigeons panic & fly off, but tonight I could barely get their attention & had to make a racket to make em go. The seeds are poisonous to people but it seems the leaves don't affect the birds, unless it makes them a bit dozy. I'm now suspicious that the damn flying rats contributed in the same way to the unexpected death of our damson tree, along with last summer's heat & dry weather.
Damson trees like a cool, moist climate so if you didn't water it deeply and regularly during exceptional heat and drought it's hardly suprising it's died of thirst and stress.
Wood pigeons, like any other creature, need to eat and will, in turn, provide food for raptors. If you don't want them in your laburnum or any other tree, try putting out bird feed for them and maybe hang some old CDs or shiny, twirly ribbons in your laburnum to scare them off.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Pigeons are a b****y nuisance. Doesn't help when people put bread etc. out - it just attracts the undesirable birdy element.
I guess we can all change our minds
I'm guessing wild food supplies are limited due to the weather if pigeons start eating tree leaves? Ask your local authority what progress they're making towards the 30by30 pledge and highlight the current stresses on wildlife.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I love wood pigeons, they munch the hawthorn all day. Not quite sure what, but assume it's leaf, berry and whatever. They do eat all the cherries, and sit eating ivy berries and seem obsessed with old man's beard, unless it's the hawthorn underneath they are munching again. Anyway doesn't seem to bother the hawthorn.
A weird thing I did see early in the year was sycamore, squirrels were munching the buds from what I could see. Anyway moral of the story, perhaps have some sacrificial stock.
Having said that, if they touch my damsons I'll reach for the shotgun.
Posts
They're wildlife ... they're eating some lilac leaves ... what's the problem? They won't totally denude it ... what are they supposed to eat? At least they're not eating my broccoli
Pointing laser pens skywards can get you into severe trouble with the police and the aviation authorities
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They have in the past laid waste to the veg plot so we've netted that for several years.
Normally if I get anywhere near the laburnum in the evening the pigeons panic & fly off, but tonight I could barely get their attention & had to make a racket to make em go.
The seeds are poisonous to people but it seems the leaves don't affect the birds, unless it makes them a bit dozy.
I'm now suspicious that the damn flying rats contributed in the same way to the unexpected death of our damson tree, along with last summer's heat & dry weather.
Wood pigeons, like any other creature, need to eat and will, in turn, provide food for raptors. If you don't want them in your laburnum or any other tree, try putting out bird feed for them and maybe hang some old CDs or shiny, twirly ribbons in your laburnum to scare them off.
A weird thing I did see early in the year was sycamore, squirrels were munching the buds from what I could see. Anyway moral of the story, perhaps have some sacrificial stock.
Having said that, if they touch my damsons I'll reach for the shotgun.