THE PREDATORS -- A Line from the Allotment
Feathered World, UK April 2000
Having been retired since 1984 and having nothing better to do than keep an
allotment, close to a heavily wooded area, I see a lot of things that many
people do not see. My allotment is in a remote area so I do not attempt to
grow, vegetables, I just try to keep the weeds down. As the years go by the
area is becoming more wild and more lonely. The trees are much bigger than
they used to be.
A lot of people used to walk along the footpaths to the woods. A lot of kids
used to come to pick blackberries, bluebells, acorns, sweet chestnuts, etc.
Kids that kept pet rabbits would come to collect various weeds for them or
to feed to pet goats. Cage bird man would collect various seeds and
home-made wine producers came for the elderberries and elderflowers. Various
herbs and roots were collected, not least of all the wild cornfrey. Bunches
of flowers, mints, rhubarb, even potatoes, carrots and tomatoes could be had
for a few pence. The dog exercising fraternity used to prevail in my area.
These days it is very seldom that I see anyone.
I exercise my pigeons twice a day. It was common, a few, years ago for some
neighbour or some regular passer-by to come to my old gate and say, 'The
pigeons are doing well today, Jack.' or even, 'What's up today, Jack? They
don't want to know.' Sometimes these regular visitors to the valley would
come and sit with me for a talk and look at my pigeons.
These days the blackberries go unpicked, no one, it seems, has time to walk
in the woodlands. Ten years ago, our council spent a lot of money improving
the woodlands and the paths - but no one now comes to the woods I am
surprised as the woods are so beautiful at all times of the year.
Sifting, mostly to watch my large kit of high flying Tumblers, I also see
other interesting things. Recently, three small fox cubs came trundling out
to play from a hole under an old hedge. I have seen Magpies plundering the
nests of Collared Doves and other wild birds. I have seen Crows do the same,
very often being driven off by the Magpies.
I have seen the Kestrels being driven off by Sparrowhawks, which only
arrived a few years ago. I've seen Sparrowhawk attacks on young doves. I
have seen nest plunder by grey squirrels and even by tree-climbing rats in
broad daylight. I have seen birds taken by cats that visit the area from the
housing estate half-a-mile away. Rats, stoats, foxes, dogs and weasels have
killed lots of poultry and pigeons. The carnage goes on.
My own pigeons are never left unattended and not even a mouse could get into
my loft after I lock up. Nationwide, the various hawks do take a
considerable number of pigeons - but I suggest that cats, rats, dogs, stoats
and people account for most losses. It is said that a million pigeons are
lost each year in the UK. What happens to them?
Well! Take a look at the race that took place from Nantes, France, in 1997.
A special race to celebrate a hundred years of National Union racing. 60,000
pigeons released, in spite of the chance of rain. They hit the rain
mid-English Channel and were smashed down in the rain, to drown. Only 300
arrived home - the rest were drowned.
Don't talk to me about hawks - the biggest predator and killer is man
himself. He subjects his birds to unreasonable risks and tasks.
Pigeon lovers?
Leave it out! I don't believe it.