The ecology and economics of damage to Brassicae by wood-pigeons Columba palumbus

Damage caused by wood-pigeons, Columba palumbus, to spring cabbage and Brussels sprouts was measured during three winters in two areas in the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire. In one area (experimental) special attempts were made to reduce pigeon damage in addition to the normal efforts of the growers. In the other (control) area no such additional measures were taken. There was slightly more damage in 1969-70, but low market prices made it less important than in 1968-9 or 1970-1. There was no significant difference in any season between the damage in the control and experimental areas. No damage was caused to Brussels-sprout buttons as the birds ate only the tops of the plants; they preferred Brussels sprouts to cabbages and it is likely that the presence of the former helped to reduce the amount of damage to nearby cabbage fields. The amount of damage was not correlated with the amount spent on crop protection; actual damage was not correlated with the grower's estimates in the control area. In the second season a very intensive shooting campaign in the experimental area did not result in less damage, but the movements of local inhabitants and farm workers near a village did afford protection. The significance of the damage in the Vale and elsewhere is assessed in relation to the economics of crop production, the cropping pattern for cabbages and the behaviour and ecology of the wood-pigeon.