RACING PIGEONS â IMPACT OF RAPTOR PREDATION

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1.5 REVIEW <strong>OF</strong> DETERRENTS • A review was conducted of avian deterrent/protection techniques with respect to alleviating attacks by raptors on racing pigeons. The review consisted of two parts: (i) an evaluation of questionnaire returns from a survey conducted by SHU investigating deterrent/protection techniques that have been used by SHU members, and (ii) an evaluation of avian deterrents used in other circumstances and settings for their suitability for protecting racing pigeons from raptor predation. • A total of 366 SHU members reported the use of deterrents, of which 86 (23.5%) provided information on deterrent use. The deterrents used fell into two distinct categories: (i) loft-based, and (ii) pigeon-based. Loft-based deterrents are located on, or near the loft, and are aimed at deterring attacks, principally by sparrowhawks, in the immediate vicinity of the loft. Sixty-nine (80%) of the 86 respondents had deployed loft-based deterrents. Pigeon-based deterrents are fixed directly onto the pigeons and attempt to discourage attacks, principally by peregrines, during exercise, training flights and races. Fifty-eight (64%) respondents had used pigeon-based deterrents. • Overall, the majority of respondents perceived each of the five main types of loftbased deterrent used (balloon, whistle, eyespots, replica owl, mirrors/reflectors) to be ineffective. Over 20% of respondents, however, reported at least partial effectiveness for eyespots, replica owls and mirrors/reflectors. Replica owls and eyespots were most commonly used (73% and 55% of respondents respectively). The deterrent perceived to be the most effective, however, was mirrors/reflectors; 33% of respondents who used this technique perceived it to be at least partially effective. • Of the 55 lofts for which perceived deterrent effectiveness was reported, it was reported significantly more often for lofts which had used more than one type of deterrent technique (36 lofts) than lofts deploying a single technique only (19 lofts). Partial effectiveness (or better) was reported for 21 lofts (58%) which had used multiple-techniques compared with 5 lofts (26%) which used a single technique only. • Three types of pigeon-based deterrent have been used: wing transfers, sequins and Bali-bells. Respondents overwhelmingly regarded sequins as ineffective, with only 4% rating them, at best, as partially effective. Wing transfers were also generally regarded as ineffective, being categorised as partial or very effective by only 7% of respondents. Bali-bells, however, were reported to be partially effective by 16% of respondents. • Avian deterrent techniques, used in a range of bird control circumstances, were reviewed and evaluated for their potential applicability in reducing raptor predation at racing pigeon lofts. Human disturbance, bioacoustics, mirrors/reflectors (including Mylar tape), moving visuals (animated models) and habitat modification were all considered to have some potential as loft-based deterrents. Supplementary (diversionary) feeding in the wider landscape may provide a means of redirecting raptors’ attentions away from lofts. A potential 6
novel area of investigation was identified involving an innovative method of exposing raptors to a chemical repellent in the form of an aerosol in the loft area. 1.6 FIELD TRIALS <strong>OF</strong> RACE DETERRENTS • The effect of wing transfers and sequins on the return rates of racing pigeon from races was investigated in six old bird races and four young bird races. A total of 140 old birds from four different lofts and 281 young birds from eight lofts were used in the trials (the same birds flew in more than one race). Total numbers of birds used in each race ranged from 17 to 114 for old birds (total birdage over six races was 453) and 55 to 183 for young birds (total birdage over four races was 430). The distances raced were 35 to 65 miles and 65 to 105 miles for old and young birds respectively. • There was no significant difference in the return rates of either old birds or young birds from the three experimental groups. That is, the level of losses was unaffected by the use of wing transfers and sequins. • There were a number of differences in return rates between categories of birds that were unrelated to deterrents. First, old birds had higher return rates than young birds. Second, there were highly significant differences in the return rates of young birds between lofts. Third, there were highly significant differences in the return rates of young birds between races. Finally, for old birds the variation between lofts in the return rate approached significance. These latter differences may reflect variation in the quality of birds and in the rearing and training practices between lofts. 1.7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS • The study has highlighted the very complex nature of the interactions between racing pigeons and peregrines and sparrowhawks. The many gaps in knowledge that currently exist severely constrain the ability to derive reliable estimates of the impacts of these raptors on Scottish racing pigeons. • Overall reported losses (from all causes) from lofts represented, on average, 56% of the loft population at the start of the racing season. Examining the circumstances of losses, mean losses of birds from a) the loft area, b) during training and c) during races were 8 (8%), 18 (16%) and 44 (35%) respectively. There are, however, concerns over the accuracy of the reported loft losses due to a number of anomalies in the data supplied by some loft-owners. Clearly, any problems in the accurate recording of losses from lofts has critical implications with respect to confounding the evaluation of the impact of raptors. It is reasonable to assume that previous studies may also have been subject to inaccuracies in the recording of losses, and previous results should also be considered with this in mind. • The mean loft population (OB+YB) in the study lofts was 122 birds. This however, is probably larger than for Scotland as a whole, for which 82 birds per loft (Shawyer et al. 2000) is probably more representative. Therefore, with 4,151 SHU lofts the Scottish population of racing pigeons will be around 340,382 birds. 7
Page 1: RACING PIGEONS - IMPACT OF RAPTOR P
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS PAGE 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Page 7: 6.3 DETERRENTS USED IN OTHER CIRCUM
Page 10 and 11: OB=48). Collectively, however, the
Page 12 and 13: • The risk of sparrowhawk predati
Page 16 and 17: • Overall reported losses to spar
Page 18 and 19: 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 BACKGROUND Pere
Page 20 and 21: During the Second World War (1939-4
Page 22 and 23: Table 2.1. Changes in the peregrine
Page 24 and 25: website, 2002). In South Wales, Dix
Page 26 and 27: 2.5.2 Sparrowhawk Diet Sparrowhawk
Page 28 and 29: In 1996 a total of 34,685 birds fro
Page 30 and 31: Dixon (2002) also estimated the num
Page 32 and 33: more likely to follow natural featu
Page 34 and 35: 3. TOTAL REPORTED LOSSES FROM SCOTT
Page 36 and 37: 3.3a). The circumstances of losses
Page 38 and 39: Figure 3.2. Location of lofts used
Page 40 and 41: Table 3.3 Regional comparison of ol
Page 42 and 43: would be expected as a consequence
Page 44 and 45: p>0.05), although at the Federation
Page 46 and 47: Ayrshire Loft 25 20 15 10 5 0 1981
Page 48 and 49: 4. REPORTED LOSSES TO SPARROWHAWKS
Page 50 and 51: Table 4.1. Summary of reported loss
Page 52 and 53: Table 4.2. Comparison of reported l
Page 54 and 55: irds, a mean of 0.91 birds per loft
Page 56 and 57: 5. LOSSES TO PEREGRINES AWAY FROM L
Page 58 and 59: Figure 5.1. Regional distribution o
Page 60 and 61: crags were also examined unless it
Page 62 and 63: also died between the time of the r
Page 64 and 65:
5.2.3 Discussion It was always reco
Page 66 and 67:
5.4 ESTIMATE OF POTENTIAL STRAYS 5.
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Figure 5.5. Principal race routes f
Page 70 and 71:
5.4.3 Discussion The rate of potent
Page 72 and 73:
These 86 questionnaire returns were
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Table 6.2. Frequency of multiple lo
Page 76 and 77:
within the area of application. The
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Table 6.6. Management techniques wh
Page 80 and 81:
1986). Peregrines in Britain, likew
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pitched wail and may illuminate at
Page 84 and 85:
development to ensure that the chem
Page 86 and 87:
deterrents were regularly moved and
Page 88 and 89:
located at another loft) and two un
Page 90 and 91:
other stimuli. Essentially, the mor
Page 92 and 93:
7. FIELD TRIALS OF RACE DETERRENTS
Page 94 and 95:
Table 7.1. Return rates of racing p
Page 96 and 97:
8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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9. FUTURE RESEARCH Accurate recordi
Page 100 and 101:
Trials of loft-based deterrents The
Page 102 and 103:
Conover, M.R. 1979. Response of bir
Page 104 and 105:
Inglis, I.R. 1980. Visual bird scar
Page 106 and 107:
Nicolaus, L.K., Herrera, J., Nicola
Page 108 and 109:
Toyne, E.P. 1998. Breeding season d
Page 110 and 111:
pigeons are available to peregrines
Page 112 and 113:
Daily Food Intake (DFI) Redpath & T
Page 114 and 115:
Reliability of the available data T
Page 116 and 117:
Estimates of potential peregrine ki
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