RACING PIGEONS – IMPACT OF RAPTOR PREDATION

In southern Scotland there was consistency between studies, spread over 80 years, in
the estimates of domestic/feral pigeon in peregrine diet. Blezard (1923-1969),
Ratcliffe (1946-74) and Roxburgh and Mearns (1974-75) estimated that pigeon
comprised 49%, 44% and 54% (by number) of total prey respectively, based on prey
remains (Ratcliffe 1993). Mearns (1983) investigated the diet of peregrines in southwest
Scotland occupying different habitats (coast, forest, heather moor, sheepwalk
and inland mixed) during the breeding season between 1975-80. During March-July,
pigeon (domestic/feral/rock dove) constituted 49% of kills (by number) and was the
most numerous prey species, both by numbers and weight, at all eyries investigated.
The proportion that individual groups of birds (seabirds, passerines, waders, game
birds, pigeons) formed in the diet varied by less than 10% between years. Differences
in diet between habitats were minor, probably due to peregrines ranging widely and
hunting over a variety of habitats, and also to a supply of transient species (domestic
pigeon, thrushes and waders). During winter (October-March) the percentage of
pigeon in peregrine diet was lower, constituting 30% of prey remains at coastal eyries
and 13% at inland eyries (Mearns 1982). Fieldfares Turdus pilaris and redwings
Turdus iliacus were important components of the diet during the winter months,
constituting 71% and 17% of prey items at inland and coastal eyries respectively. At
inland eyries pigeon remains were few in winter but increased in April as the breeding
season and racing pigeon season got underway. On the coast, pigeons were found in
the diet throughout the year but again increased in April. Redpath & Thirgood (1999)
found that racing/feral pigeon constituted 55% (by number) of peregrine diet during
summer, over the period 1992-96. The percentage of pellets containing pigeons
varied between seasons, being highest in the order: summer (73%), spring (61%) and
winter (31%).
In the Highlands of Scotland domestic/feral pigeons constitute a lower proportion of
peregrine diet. Ratcliffe (1993), details five studies in the Highlands, between the
years 1904 and 1977, in which domestic/feral pigeon constituted only 14-24% (by
number) (mean 19%) of total prey. In more recent years, pigeons have been reported
to constitute a higher proportion of the peregrine diet from studies in the Highlands:
30% domestic pigeons (1981-1991) (Hardey 1981 cited in Shawyer et al. 2000) and
31% racing/feral pigeons (1992-96) (Redpath & Thirgood 1999). At inland Highland
sites gamebirds (mainly red grouse Lagopus lagopus) and ducks and waders become
important constituents of the diet, whilst at some coastal sites seabirds are frequent
prey species. Domestic pigeons are less available to peregrines in the Highlands as
fewer racing pigeons pass through or are lost in this region compared to southern
Scotland.
In northwest England, Ratcliffe (1993) reported data from five studies conducted in
Lakeland, in which domestic/feral pigeons constituted 15-53% (mean 34%) of prey.
Redpath and Thirgood (1999) found that racing/feral pigeons constituted 46% of prey
in northern England during summer, between 1992-96.
In Snowdonia (1950-79), Ratcliffe (1993) reported that domestic/feral pigeon
constituted 70% of prey. In South Wales (1985-98), Richards and Shrubb (1999)
found domestic pigeon constituted 69% of prey during April to September and 24%
of prey during October to March. Dixon reported regional variation across Wales,
during the racing season, in the proportion of racing pigeons constituting peregrine
diet: South Wales Valleys 87%, Brecon Beacons 73% and Mid Wales 54% (RPRA
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