THE EFFECT ON WOOD-PIGEON BREEDING OF SYSTEMATIC NEST DESTRUCTION

Wood-pigeon nests were destroyed in various localities scattered throughout East Anglia during the breeding season of 1956. Nests were destroyed at three periods: 23 July? August; 14-30 September and 29 October-12 November. Four nesting habitats were studied-hedgerow, deciduous thicket, mature deciduous woodland and coniferous woodland-amounting to approximately 100 acres of each habitat. The density of occupied nests varied between different habitats. Hedgerow supported the highest number per acre, deciduous woodland the lowest. The average time required to clear I acre of occupied nests during the three trials was 2.7, 2.2, 1.4 hr., respectively. During the first two trials the average expenditure per occupied nest was 0 center dot 4 man-hours; for the third period it was 2 man-hours. In 1957 nests were destroyed at two separate periods in sites in various counties in East Anglia. Control sites where no nests were destroyed were examined at fortnightly intervals throughout the breeding season and of the total number of young expected to leave their nests in the experimental sites only 37 % did so. Nest destruction prevented the other 63 % from being fledged.