THE PREDATORS -- A Line from the Allotment
Jack Prescott
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.
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