Press Releases - November/December 2007
Item 8

No. 2007/12/85
December 2007

Woodpigeons muscle in

Take a look around Trafalgar Square, the undisputed Mecca for Feral Pigeons, and you will still see these multi-plumaged town pigeons, but amongst them, their larger country cousin the Woodpigeon, with its white neck collar and white wing flashes, is slowly taking over, and for the first time has made it into the top four garden birds.

In London, the undisputed capital of the Feral Pigeon, you might be surprised to hear that this town dwelling bird is only recorded from 27% of all gardens surveyed, whilst Woodpigeons are being seen in 46% of these. The picture is repeated in Manchester, 34% and 61% respectively, Nottingham, 47% and 74%, Bristol, 22% and 80% and York, 22% and 78%. Ten years ago Woodpigeon didn’t feature in the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch table of birds visiting our gardens, three years later it was at number 11, today it occupies fourth place.

Paul Stancliffe of the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Team, commented, “Without garden birdwatchers we just wouldn’t know how common Woodpigeons are in our gardens. It is amazing how quickly this bird of farm and woodland has become a familiar sight on the streets and pavements of some of our busiest towns and cities.”

A shift in agricultural practice, the switch to autumn sown cereals, and increased garden bird feeding has undoubtedly put the recipe for expansion in place. Couple this with the short supply of beech nuts and acorns, this winter should see them marching into our gardens, and they will be received with mixed blessings. Love them, after all a closer look at a Woodpigeon reveals a beautiful mix of greys and pinks, or hate them, they have the ability to hoover up large quantities of food, Woodpigeons bring a feel of the countryside into our towns and cities, and if the results are anything to go by this is not about to change.

If you are a fan of Woodpigeons, then you can attract them into your garden by putting out bird food with high cereal content, they love the larger seeds such as wheat and barley. If Woodpigeons aren’t your favourite bird, then try to buy proprietary seed mixes from recognised bird food suppliers, these contain fewer cereal grains and are less attractive. If your feeders are monopolized by them, you could try a caged feeder that will allow smaller birds in to feed, and feed the Woodpigeons in another part of the garden.

For a free information leaflet on feeding the birds in your garden, telephone the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Team on 01842 750050 or e-mail; or write to BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU.

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Notes for Editors

1. The Woodpigeon is the largest member of the pigeon and dove family to occur in Britain, it is widespread and an estimated three million pairs are present in Britain during the summer months. Five other pigeons and doves breed in Britain, these are the Stock Dove, Rock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove and Turtle Dove.
2. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is the only nationwide survey of garden birds to run weekly throughout the year, providing important information on how birds use gardens, and how this use changes over time. Currently, some 16,500 people take part in the project. The BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch is funded by participants’ contributions and supported by CJ WildBird Foods Ltd and is the largest year round survey of garden birds anywhere in the world. For more information see www.bto.org/gbw
3. CJ WildBird Foods is Europe’s leading supplier of bird food and bird feeding products. CJ WildBird Foods has been responsible for a number of significant developments within the bird food and feeding industry, including the introduction of black sunflower seeds to the UK as a major new bird food and the development of specialist seed mixes for use in tubular feeders. The company has also been supporting research into the changing fortunes of garden bird populations, most notably through the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch.
4. Bird Table Magazine is published quarterly and sent free to all BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatchers, and contains the latest results from the Garden BirdWatch survey. An annual subscription to the project costs just £12 and all new joiners will receive a free copy of the BTO/CJ Garden BirdWatch Book (which normally retails for £9.99).
5. Images of Woodpigeons are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request an electronic version. Please quote reference number 2007/12/85.
6. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050 or e-mail: (during office hours)
or mobile 07845 900559 (anytime)

Mike Toms on 01842 750050 or e-mail: (during office hours)