Flight intensities of rock pigeons (Columba guinea) and sunflower damage

Abstract

Daily flight patterns of rock pigeons (Columba guinea) in the Bloemfontein area are characterised by prominent peaks in early morning and late afternoon. During the middle of the day the birds usually rest in shady places of buildings situated en route to and from field crops in the immediate vicinity of the city. Sunflower is damaged mainly by rock pigeons of which the local population was estimated to be at least 6000. Investigations of bird damage to sunflower within a radius of 20 km from the city centre amounts to between 1 and 7% of the potential seed yield. The regular hunting of rock pigeons is recom­mended as a deterrent.