RACING PIGEONS â IMPACT OF RAPTOR PREDATION

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Table 6.2. Frequency of multiple loft-based deterrent use amongst SHU lofts. No. different deterrents 1 2 3 4 5 no. lofts 24 27 8 6 4 % respondents 34.8 39.1 11.6 8.7 5.8 Overall, 26 (38%) of the 69 respondents who had used loft-based deterrents reported, at least, partial effectiveness for a deterrent technique. Of the 55 lofts for which perceived deterrent effectiveness was reported, effectiveness was reported significantly more often for lofts which had used more than one type of deterrent (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 (χ 2 = 5.22, df = 1, P < 0.05). 6.2.2 Pigeon-based deterrents Fifty-eight of the 86 respondents used pigeon-based deterrents. Three types of pigeon-based deterrent have been primarily used: wing transfers, sequins and Bali bells (Table 6.3). Wing transfers, made from waterproof inks, are brightly coloured roundels or “eyes” which are applied to the upper surface of a pigeon’s wings. The transfers are intended to mimic the eyes of a larger bird and so deter attack by birds of prey. Sequins are small reflective discs which are glued to the feathers on the pigeons head and back. Reflections off the sequins are intended to repel or startle any attacking bird of prey. Bali bells are actually small whistles which are attached to the base of the tail. When the pigeon is in flight the “bells” produce a high pitched noise, the sound of which is intended to deter raptors from attacking the bird, and possibly also from approaching the flock as a whole. Respondents overwhelmingly regarded sequins as ineffective, with only 4% rating them, at best, as partially effective. Wing transfers were also generally regarded as ineffective and categorised as partial or very effective by only 7% of respondents. Bali-bells, however, were reported to be partially effective by 16% respondents. Although Bali-bells were overall rated the most effective of the three pigeon-based deterrents, limitations to their efficacy were reported. Firstly, as was the case with loft-deterrents, the effectiveness of Bali-bells was suggested to decrease over time, as peregrines seemed to habituate to the device. It was even suggested that over time the sound of the Bali-bells actually attracted peregrines. Secondly, Bali-bells were not effective within the vicinity of the loft. Bali-bells function by producing a whistling noise when the pigeon is in flight, a stimulus which ceases when the pigeon alights. Thus, even if Bali-bells effectively deterred peregrines during training or race flights, once having alighted in the vicinity of the loft birds would then be unprotected and vulnerable to attack. A further number of negative aspects were reported for each of the three deterrents. Bali-bells were reported to: be difficult to fit, cause damage to tail feathers, “upset” the birds, and to be expensive and impractical. Wing transfers were described as time consuming to apply, whilst sequins quickly became detached. 66
Table 6.3. Pigeon-based deterrents used by SHU members and an assessment of their effectiveness. Lofts Effectiveness n = 58 ? none partial very Deterrent no. % no. % no. % no. % no. % wing transfers 42 72.4 13 31.0 26 61.9 2 4.8 1 2.4 sequins 24 41.4 9 37.5 14 58.3 1 4.2 0 0.0 Bali-bells 25 43.1 8 32.0 13 52.0 4 16.0 0 0.0 other 2 3.4 1 50.0 1 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 “painted eyes” 1 1 glitter on head/dye wings 1 1 ? respondent did not indicate perceived effectiveness of deterrent Around 41% of the respondents who had used pigeon-based deterrents had used more than one type of deterrent system (Table 6.4), whilst 33% of all respondents had not used any pigeon-based deterrent at all. Table 6.4. Frequency of multiple pigeon-based deterrent use amongst SHU lofts. No. different deterrents 1 2 3 4 no. lofts 34 15 8 1 % respondents 58.6 25.9 13.8 1.7 Not all loft-owners used both loft-based and pigeon-based deterrents. Around half used only one category of deterrent, i.e. either loft-based or pigeon-based (Table 6.5). It is not clear whether this reflected a difference in the relative rates of attack by peregrines and sparrowhawks between these sub-groups of respondents, a more general difference in willingness to test a range of deterrents, or a resignation on the part of some loft-owners that certain deterrents were ineffective and so not worthwhile. Six (7%) respondents reported confining birds to the loft during autumn and winter. Information on confining birds, however, was not explicitly requested, therefore it is not known what proportion of loft-owners did actually carry this out. Table 6.5. Proportion of lofts using each category of raptor deterrent. Category of deterrent used Respondents no. % Loft-based only 28 32.6 Pigeon-based only 17 19.8 Loft-based and Pigeon-based 41 47.7 6.3 DETERRENTS USED IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES A large number of different management techniques (Table 6.6) have been used in attempts to alleviate problems caused by avian species. Deterrents are frequently deployed in attempts to scare mixed flocks from a sensitive area, e.g. landfill sites or grain stores. In many instances, however, deterrents are used in response to the activities of a specific species, e.g. woodpigeons feeding on fields of crops and piscivorous species, such as great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, at aquaculture facilities. Whatever the impetus for use, however, with very few exceptions most deterrents are non-targetable, i.e. the aversive stimuli produced affects all bird species 67
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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 14 and 15:
1.5 REVIEW OF DETERRENTS • A revi
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.
Page 68 and 69: 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
Page 76 and 77: within the area of application. The
Page 78 and 79: Table 6.6. Management techniques wh
Page 80 and 81: 1986). Peregrines in Britain, likew
Page 82 and 83: 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
Page 98 and 99: 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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RACING PIGEONS â IMPACT OF RAPTOR PREDATION