I kid you not...the revised GL mentions the use of pigeon decoys or at least pigeon like models. Here's an extract from the new GL31 for Pigeon taken from Table 1:
Use a wide range of devices and methods, varying them as often as possible, and use active human scaring. Random movement, sound, and unpredictability help prevent the birds getting used to scaring devices.
Woodpigeon models (particularly those with outstretched wings, showing the white wing bars) to give the impression of dead birds, and kites/hawk-kites can be effective in deterring woodpigeons.
If using scarecrows, make it look as real as possible, dress it in your old clothes, sit it on a chair and put a gun-like stick in its hand, move it regularly (ideally daily or more frequently). Occasionally change places with the scarecrow, and use this method to shoot to scare or to kill woodpigeons (under licence).
Gas cannons, pyrotechnics and recordings of woodpigeon alarm calls can be used effectively, especially when combined with visual deterrents and shooting to scare. Gas cannons should be moved frequently to maintain their effect.
Shooting to scare is a highly effective method, especially when combined with other techniques. No licence is required for nonlethal shooting to scare birds. Scaring and lethal shooting (under licence) typically work best if they are linked and woodpigeons associate deterrents with lethal control and vice versa.
Scaring is most effective against large flocks of birds, since one bird that is particularly nervous and flies away, will often take the flock with it. WML-GL31 [May 2019] Page 8 of 9 I
The rest of the license is confusing and really unworkable. It's a joke.
So, put down your woodpigeon "models" showing white wing bars and if pigeon still come in, shoot them?
But don't forget to fly your kites, climb trees after you've pinpointed pigeon nests and coat the eggs in paraffin (yes, it really does suggest this in the license conditions rather than tipping the eggs out of the nest...poisoning the chicks instead...that is after you've shinned your way up the tree in the first place!)
It beggars belief. These faceless idiots have zero conception of how nature or the countryside works nor what they're talking about.
As for the use of gas cannon, I know plenty of farmers who hate the things because of the noise disturbance...can you imagine the racket if every crop field had numerous gas cannons going off continually? It's all plain nuts and written by complete pillocks.
Scaring works for a one off time. What about most of the time time no-one is available as farmers have to work for a living...what are they expected to do, employ Eastern Europeans to stand in fields waving their arms about all day? Again, complete pillocks.
The only partially effective means of control is to control numbers as you cannot control the nature of the bird. It goes to crops as they're an easy meal and why wouldn't they? Let the numbers increase then the nuisance and financial losses increase exponentially as numbers rise. No amount of scaring reduces numbers and they are already at pest levels.
I walked around a farm today and it didn't take long to see what impact crows were having in their huge numbers, as well as pigeon and that's before you count things like last seasons pheasant also getting in on the act. Farmers don't have it easy and it's just been made worse for them.
Entitled prats, ill informed environmentalists and TV celebrities have been interfering for too long in matters they have little actual knowledge or experience of other than their biases and prejudices. Real conservationists understand all too well the problems faced and plenty are now siding with the farmers and shooting organisations.
For anyone who wants a giggle...have a look at the detail in this licence...I would suggest that "you couldn't make it up", but someone has obviously been paid to do just that!:
https://assets.publishing.service.g...odpigeons-prevent-serious-damage-to-crops.pdf
