HEEELP Pigeons.......!

[green lily]

My apricot, greengage, plum trees are being completely defoliated by a large pigeon.The ground around the trees is covered in stripped  leaves.
It [or its friends] also stripped my young calabrese last night. I'm resigned to the last of the psb going [and have given it a good haircut myself. ] I thought I had the most expensive stash of white netting in the country but even I can't get it over an apricot tree..... ??? I've now covered everything I can reach but I obviously need a gun.. :o :o
I made a catapult as a kid but I don't think my dodgy hands could pull one now but I'd give it a try. I really am upset to see so much work go down the drain. I've even covered the radishes and had to get extra cover on the peas. This I might say is my garden not on some remote lottie... :'( :'( 
And I don't keep a bird table!
Any extra solutions would be welcome.

[green lily]

[non-stick]

It's a war of attrition round here with them where they are reaching plague proportions. The sit on netting and squash it down to get at stuff. The only good pigeon is warm in a salad with black pudding!

[Alex133]

You could try hanging CDs from some of the branches - I think it does put them off quite well and easier to do than trying to cover with netting.

[Gordonmull]

Air rifle? Or offer some trusted lads with an air-rifle 50p a tail? Hang corpses in full view. Pigeons may be vermin but they're not stupid. Seen similar done by sheep farmers with crows.

And yes I am a hard hearted "bar steward".

[Ian Pearson]

http://www.trapman.co.uk/feral-pigeon-trap.htm

[BarriedaleNick]

We net every brassica going or the flying rats will have em in a moment.  Our sie looks like a scoffold test station at times...

[samand]

Hi Google Grazers it might help your problem

I am using it this year.Originally brought out for agricultural use but now supplied in small bottles for gardens and allotment users
I was told about it by a friend who used it last year ,and thought it was fantastic
you spray it on ,"you might have to use a spot of  Fairy Liquid to help it stick to the plants as it tends to run of the leaves"  a few days before planting out and spraying after you have planted
i planted a few plant gto try it a few had apeck or two on the leaves but that was all.
They do not like the taste.it is a nutrient for the plants and is not poisonous.

Good luck

[BarriedaleNick]

Now that is interesting - given the amount of damage the the winged rats inflict then it must be worth a go...

[green lily]

Well the apricot tree is 15ft. tall and the b******s perch in it and strip the leaves.... I've rough covered the plum fans with enviromesh and the rest of my plot looks like a Bedouin camp. However if the wind drops perhaps a spray might just help but the tree is in a protected corner with windows on 2 sides which would need to be avoided.
Last year a friend necked one pigeon eating his blackcurrants but this damage is in another league. ::)
I'll look up the grazers and the traps. Pigeon hotpot sounds good...

[green lily]

I've ordered a plastic owl ;) ;D