6 Conclusion
The main aim of the trial was to explore the effectiveness of the two different management options at reducing the frequency of Sparrowhawk attacks on racing pigeons in the immediate loft area. It was not possible to draw such conclusions with the observational data derived from this particular trial however. This was largely due to issues arising from insufficient samples sizes (numbers of lofts taking part), issues over experimental design (which were compounded by the small sample sizes) and the limited amounts of observational data collected at the lofts. For a rigorous scientific trial, observers would need to be trained more formally and/or provided with fuller guidance on how to make observations of attacks, and any factors associated with these and their outcome, and an element of independent validation of observations would also be good practice.