Rock dove

The rock dove (Columba livia) belongs to the order Columbiformes and the family Columbidae. As a highly adaptive synanthropic species, it thrives in agricultural ecosystems located near human settlements, granaries, and storage facilities, exploiting these areas for constant access to food sources.

This bird species causes significant damage to cereals, legumes, and oilseed crops. Pigeons are particularly destructive during the sowing period, as they consume seeds directly from the soil, and during the ripening phase, when flocks damage ears of corn or wheat and break stalks, leading to flattened crops.

The biology of the rock dove is characterized by extreme resilience and sedentary behavior. They nest in a wide variety of man-made structures. Due to their ability to breed multiple times per year, provided there is a steady supply of food in the surrounding fields, their population density often reaches problematic levels for farmers.

The damage caused involves direct grain loss and the contamination of fields and storage units with droppings. This feces not only lowers the market value of the harvested grain but also serves as a vector for various pathogens, posing a health risk to both agricultural workers and the farm environment.

Control measures rely on an integrated approach, including the use of sonic deterrents, ultrasonic devices, and visual scare tactics like raptor decoys or reflective tapes. In terms of agronomy, farmers often utilize deeper seed placement during planting and physical barriers, such as netting, to protect high-value seed crops from feeding flocks.