Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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240. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 229 of 5 July 2022 and 105 of 14 June 2023, if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has yet carried out a review of the issue of claimed woodpigeon damage to crops during the summer months, including the collection of new scientific data; and if not, the reason, in the absence of this data, he has included woodpigeons in a year-round killing derogation relating to preventing ‘serious damage’ to crops. [39691/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is entering into a research agreement with a University for the undertaking of research on a number of topics. These include research into the estimation and mitigation of bird damage to crops and stock. The recruitment process is underway to fill the post-doctorate position and it is anticipated that this will conclude in the coming weeks.

In the interim, the population of Woodpigeon in Ireland is considered stable to moderately increasing, based on the most recent species trends published in the Countryside Bird Survey Newsletter in March 2024.

The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS), has been monitoring breeding bird populations of Ireland’s common and widespread birds since 1998. This ongoing annual monitoring covers over 300 1km squares nationally each year and this level of sustained coverage ensures that all common and widespread breeding species are surveyed across a wide range of habitats and geographical locations. A high proportion of 1 km squares surveyed in CBS are entirely or at least partly within farmland habitats. Formerly a bird of deciduous woodland, Woodpigeon is now found in any habitat with sufficient vegetation for nesting, including hedgerows, tall heather and garden shrubs. As per published 2019 figures (Lewis et al. 2019), the Woodpigeon has increased by 37.4% during CBS (1998-2016), with an estimated population of >2,500,000 individuals, making Woodpigeon the seventh most numerous CBS species.

The basis for the inclusion of species on the General Declaration was first discussed in a submission compiled in 1990 (J. Wilson in litt). That submission referred to five species that were listed as ‘pests’ (Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie and Woodpigeon), particularly in an agricultural context. A review of the derogation process was carried out also in 2018 and this stated that Woodpigeon is resident, sedentary and highly numerous distributed throughout Ireland, and most concentrated along the east and south coasts. They are highly congregatory, especially in farmland areas. They feed on crops, but also buds, shoots, seeds, nuts and berries. Woodpigeon is considered a pest among farmers growing cereals and often significant efforts are put in place to deter them from these areas. The recommendation from that report was that no change to the derogation was necessary for Woodpigeon.