pigeons

[southeastastra]

is there a way to get rid of these, im fed up with them, they poo all over the garden

I suppose we take it for granted in the countryside. The gamekeeper does a better job than the police. I always ring him first if I see anything suspicious.

I was out along jogging down a bridle path last autumn and I stumbled upon two car loads of illegal hare coursers. I rang the gamekeeper and he rang the two gamekeepers from neighbouring estates. They came out, caught the harecoursers and shot their dogs. The criminals went away taught a lesson and have never been seen since. Gamekeepers are way more effective than police.

that sounds v effective!

did i read that you live near yorkshire moors?

I was born and brought up in Wharfedale in Yorkshire.

I now live in the rural wilds of North Lincolnshire.

i bet it's beautiful, i don't really like living in southeast it's so full of people and cars and how much money you have.

Which bit of south east are you in? My DH was born in Ilford. He also went to college in Kingston upon Thames and lived in Crawley at one time too. He proposed to me at Hampton Court gardens. I thought the south east was lovely... the bits I saw anyhow.

i live in south herts, it used to be nice but has just got so expensive.

Its probably expensive coz there is plenty of work for people. Here most blokes have to work away or else accept very low local wages. My DH works from home and travels too. He is often away for a week at a time. There are a lot of RAF and army families here too, with DHs off in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And farm workers get an appalling wage. They have to compete with all the illegal gangs working the land, which is impossible coz they are on 50p an hour to lift potatoes etc. You cant buy a house and have kids on that sort of money. Hence the cheaper house prices here.

yes there are lots of RAF and american bases in lincs aren't there? i remember reading books about haunted abandoned bases from the war! could do with a few jets over here to piss the pigeons off.

Yes, there is an old abandoned wartime bomber airbase outside our village. Its creepy. All the old buildings are still there and the runways have grass growing out of the cracks. A chinese firework factory has taken over the underground bunkers though. Sign of the times.

chinese firework factory?? how bizarre

North Lincolnshire is a very bizarre place. The poeple born and brought up here don't notice though.

Southeastastra - I think I may have solved your pigeon problem.

Was at a village hall do, talking to gamekeeper socially last night. Apparently, someone has lost a Harris hawk and it's living wild in the wood at the other side of the village. Gamekeeper said he doesn't have shoot pigeons over there anymore coz this Harris Hawk is keeping them down. It eats them. Farmer confirmed he saw it swoop down and grab one right in front of him. Ate it in a couple of gulps!

Ring up your nearest falconry centre and invite them round your place for a session

that's a good idea!! otherwise maybe i can buy a stuffed one!

I reckon you can by plastic birds of prey in garden centres. I've certainly seen owls. You would have to move them around each day, so the pigeons don't get used to them.

Air rifle.My dad has had his cabbages & peas decimated by them & he currently has our air rifle on standby.Oddly enough,the pigeons haven't been seen since he borrowed the gun.

Mirage - the pigeons round here are so big they can shrug off the airgun pellets. Actually, I just seemed to end up wounding them so they flapped around in agony on the ground. Made me feel guilty and horrible.