Feral pigeon damage to field beans

Feral pigeon (Columba livia) feeding behaviour and its effect on crop growth and yield of field bean (Viciafaba) sown at three depths is described. By digging up seeds and destroying seedlings, pigeons reduced plant populations by over 95% on plots sown at 1–6 cm depth and by over 50% on plots with seeds at 2–2 cm in comparison with plant populations on plots sown at 2–9 cm. The pigeons returned at harvest time and caused varying levels of crop loss depending on plant density and especially on the degree of lodging of the crop. The results are used to illustrate the need to consider potential bird damage as a factor when changes in husbandry systems are being developed.