Sparrows

[Tartar Horde]

So far in East Yorkshire the Winter has been quite mild without any snow, so far!, this has led in my area to an increase in the number of Sparrows. I normally put out food for the birds as this helps to keep them off my crops with an easier source of food available. I put Corn out for the Wood pigeons and although I have up to six a day visit my garden, they don't eat my plants with a ready supply of Corn, plus Corn fed Pigeon is very nice The Sparrows are so numerous now that they are attacking my Peas en masse and have decimated a complete row. I'm going to plant again today, and have to net the full crop. Has anyone else noticed an increase in Sparrows?, I also think that come Autumn there will be a lot more Pigeons than normal due to the mild conditions, coupled with good rainfall. I walked round the Farm yesterday and everything is growing like crazy, and the Woods and hedgerows are looking very lush and Green.

[Barneyboy]

funny you should say that mate ,walking the dogs the other day and the hedges was bloody terming with them ,been some time that I have seen so many

[bigpaul]

we have some but I wouldn't say teeming, lots of little birds in general but the wood pigeons and the collared doves seem to have taken over and eat most of the food we put out, they take over the garden when they arrive every morning.

[Scythe13]

I've noticed a lot of everything, except rabbits.

TH, I know you're fully law abiding, but this is still useful information for other members not keyed up with hunting laws. With sparrows is they are not on the general license, so cannot be 'exterminated'.

What TH is doing with the netting is probably one of the only things you can do.

There is the option of little bits of silverfoil to scare them off (they don't like the glistening, apparently) but you could get a magpie or 2 trying to steal your silverfoil haha.

[T-oddity]

I rely heavily on an agro mesh to keep birds and insect off my crops on my allotment, would prefer to cull the woodies for their meat, but it is written into the allotment contract we cannot take game or control any of the vermin.

[Barneyboy]

what even rats?

[T-oddity]

yep shouldn't do rats either, that's left to the council pest controller,

[CharlesHarris]

[Tartar Horde]

Been shooting since childhood 50 now, never heard of this "general license", nor has any Farmer I know. Crows, Rooks, Magpies, Pigeons (wood & Feral) Collared Doves and certain types of Seagull have always been on the "vermin list" and shot as and when they become a problem. As for asking "permission" to shoot Rats, I've never heard such a thing on your own property, If I told my Farmer mate he has to ask "permission" to shoot Rats he'd laugh at me.

[Scythe13]