Ruffled feathers in the bird community as pigeon fanciers call for more protection from raptors

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) clashes with pigeon fanciers over proposed law change to protect pigeons from birds of prey

By Sophie Jamieson

11:30AM BST 07 Sep 2015

Pigeon fanciers have clashed with the RSPB over proposals to change the law to reduce the bird-on-bird attacks that threaten the already declining sport.

The Raptor Alliance, which represents pigeon owners, claims there has been a dramatic increase in the number of their birds being killed by birds of prey such as peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks.

The Law Commission is currently considering altering the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to allow pigeon fanciers to report problem raptors and apply for them to be relocated.

Stewart Wardrop of the Raptor Alliance, told the Guardian: “In law, there is no protection for racing pigeons. If your loft is being attacked by raptors, apart from using harsh words to shoo them off you can’t really do anything.

“Because the number of raptors has grown and grown, pigeon lofts are effectively becoming larders. They just know that at seven o’clock every morning the pigeon fancier lets his pigeons out and breakfast is served.”

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