Why is it that pigeons prefer freshly drilled seedling rape to thick stands of well established self sown plants on rape stubbles harvested a few weeks ago? There are any number of the latter around here, waiting to be ploughed and drilled with wheat for next year, on which the predators would do no harm at all.
But no. They'd much rather pick at the tiny two leaved, vulnerable rape plants we've drilled for harvesting next year. And despite using several bangers and flags to supposedly frighten them away I am spending hours each day trying to chase them off our crops until they are properly established.
A nice rain would help. The topsoil into which the rape seed has been drilled is very dry and seeds would grow faster and be less vulnerable to the pigeons with a bit more moisture. It would help keep the birds away as well because they don't like getting their feet wet and muddy.
So, a nice warm inch of night rain would be ideal. But none is forecast for the next few days.
Re-reading the above makes me realise that non farmers must think our industry is bonkers. All summer we've been complaining about too much rain. Now, after only a couple of weeks of fine weather, we want some more. But that's farming for you!