Predators fall prey to poison attacks by pigeon fanciers

Shingi Mararike

March 31 2019, 12:01am, The Sunday Times

Birds of prey are being illegally trapped and poisoned by pigeon fanciers to protect their prized racing birds, according to Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity. The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has raised concerns about the activities of some pigeon breeders, who allegedly go to extreme lengths to keep their birds safe from predators such as sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons.

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Ruffled feathers in the bird community as pigeon fanciers call for more protection from raptors

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) clashes with pigeon fanciers over proposed law change to protect pigeons from birds of prey

By Sophie Jamieson

11:30AM BST 07 Sep 2015

Pigeon fanciers have clashed with the RSPB over proposals to change the law to reduce the bird-on-bird attacks that threaten the already declining sport.

The Raptor Alliance, which represents pigeon owners, claims there has been a dramatic increase in the number of their birds being killed by birds of prey such as peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks.

The Law Commission is currently considering altering the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to allow pigeon fanciers to report problem raptors and apply for them to be relocated.

Stewart Wardrop of the Raptor Alliance, told the Guardian: “In law, there is no protection for racing pigeons. If your loft is being attacked by raptors, apart from using harsh words to shoo them off you can’t really do anything.

“Because the number of raptors has grown and grown, pigeon lofts are effectively becoming larders. They just know that at seven o’clock every morning the pigeon fancier lets his pigeons out and breakfast is served.”

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Pigeon fanciers and the RSPB wage battle in the skies over threat posed by birds of prey

JAMIE MERRILL

Sunday 03 May 2015

Conservationists have reacted with dismay to the call from pigeon fanciers to be granted powers to trap and relocate protected species of birds of prey.

The Raptor Alliance, which represents 42,000 pigeon fanciers, has launched a lobby campaign seeking support from prospective parliamentary candidates for a change to the 1981 Wildlife Act. The proposed amendment to this key piece of conservation legislation would allow pigeon fanciers to apply for licences to relocate the protected species, which the Alliance says are responsible for the “devastating attacks” on racing pigeons and pigeon lofts that kill up to 30 birds a month.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has labelled the push to trap peregrine falcons and sparrow hawks as unscientific and says it flies in the face of conservation efforts.

Jeff Knott, head of nature policy at the RSPB, said: “The story of our recovering raptor numbers is a fantastic success story. It’s sad that not everyone in society is celebrating that. The number of racing pigeons taken by raptors is relatively small, with various studies showing most lofts of 70 birds only lose about five birds a year to peregrine falcons and sparrow hawks.”

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