Premium
The use of baits treated with α‐chloralose to catch wood‐pigeons
Author(s) -
MURTON R. K.,
ISAACSON A. J.,
WESTWOOD N. J.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1963.tb03750.x
Subject(s) - biology , pasture , zoology , predation , agronomy , ecology
SUMMARY Wood‐pigeons were induced to take wheat, barley, oats, peas and beans when these were spread on fields where the birds were feeding. When these foods were scattered on pastures in winter (January‐March) they were taken in preference to the pigeons' normal food of clover. These results are discussed in relation to food preferences and the role of a ‘search image’ in the feeding behaviour of the species. Cereal and pea baits containing 1·5% by weight of α‐chloralose were laid on a variety of feeding grounds used by wood‐pigeons during the periods 27 October 1959 to 21 March 1960 and 4 November 1960 to 18 June 1961. In a total of thirty‐four such trials 1408 birds were narcotized. Of these 57% were wood‐pigeons and 20% were legally protected or game species. Using cereal baits the risk to species other than wood‐pigeons was lowest on pasture, where 74% of the birds caught were wood‐pigeons, 5% were game species and less than 1% were protected birds. Of the narcotized wood‐pigeons, 81% recovered unharmed, and partridges and pheasants had similar recovery rates. Only 38% of the stock‐doves recovered and the small finches (including house and tree sparrows) also had a low recovery rate of less than 50%. Baits normally disappeared within about I week. In a few cases they persisted for longer periods, the maximum being 31 days. Uneaten baits were lost through settlement in the soil, germination and ploughing operations. Birds were captured throughout the whole period during which bait was available. Three trials using peas treated with 1·5% by weight of a‐chloralose were conducted between 7 November 1961 to 22 January 1962. Thirty‐nine wood‐pigeons and thirty‐one game birds were narcotized and captured but no small protected birds were affected. The recovery rates of the captured birds were similar to those narcotized by using cereal baits. The method is much cheaper than control by shooting or nest destruction. The method of using stupefying baits is potentially a valuable means of wood‐pigeon control but further field tests are necessary. Only baits such as peas and beans are at present suitable as these appear to be too large to be eaten by the small protected species.