Pigeons are a constant nuisance for gardeners trying to do the right thing and feed the birds at this time of year - but there are ways to target without affecting your other more desirable feathered friends.

Feeding the birds is a good thing to do all year round, but it's especially important in the spring, when nesting birds in need to find food for their young to help them survive. A lot of bird species, like sparrows, have seen huge reductions in their populations over the last few decades, according to the RSPB, and a key reason for that is a lack of food, thanks to

That's why feeding the birds is so important - but it can be tricky to help the robins, sparrows, finches and starlings when find your bird table.

are the bullies of the bird world. They barge in and hoover up food meant for other species without discretion. While are generally harmless, so it's not hurting anyone if you feed them, their numbers are not at risk like so many other species, so it won't help the birds that really need it if you let the muscle in.

According to The Birdhouse Blog by Garden Wildlife Direct, there are ways to scare away pigeons but not other birds.

tend to eat a lot of things, but there are a few foods they don't like. Focus on broken up peanuts, suet and mealworms, which are all beloved by smaller birds but don't tend to be eaten much by pigeons.

Wheat-free food is also less desirable for pigeons, while other birds don't mind being put on a gluten-free diet, so finding seed-dense mixes without wheat will help keep pigeons away too.

Dropped seed is also a factor - pigeons might not fit on smaller bird tables but they will swoop in and peck up seed which has spilled around the table. This will still prevent other birds who need the food from being able to visit, though, so it's best to simply tidy up any dropped seed around the table to stop pigeons from blocking the table.

Finally, Garden Wildlife Direct says you can add a cage around a bird table that smaller birds can get into but pigeons will be too big for.

It says: "Many people choose to place feed and seed on a bird table. Bird tables are an open banquet to pigeons and may be the main reason that they have decided to set up in your garden. Pigeon-proofing your bird table could drive them away. To protect your bird table, you could use chicken wire to create a cage big enough for regular birds to get into, but small enough to keep pigeons out.

"Alternatively, you could opt for smaller bird tables that will allow other birds to feed without any interruption from large pigeons, or a feeder sanctuary that comes with a built-in cage to protect the food."

Deterrents are fine, but do remember it's still illegal to kill any pigeon (or their eggs) under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so don't do anything that could harm pigeons, even if carried out by a tradesman.

Garden Wildlife Direct adds: "Anybody experiencing an issue with pigeons must know that the responsibility to ensure these rules are met falls on them, even if they bring in a contractor to solve their problem. Should the contractor use illegal methods to deal with the birds, the property owner will be liable."