Blackbird Nest tragedy in the last hour! (1 Viewer)

[deborah4]

As if Magpie and cats aren't enough ..... !

Since I returned home from work this evening, I've chased two different cats out of the garden and now just witnessed a bizarre episode with an intruding male Blackbird. 'My pair' defending the nest site, the male just returning with a beak full of worms, gave chase round the tree for several minutes, female came to the rescue, both trying to get between intruding male and the nest. Female launches at the intruding male which flies off chased by the Female's mate, worms and all with a squawking Magpie entering the frey!

Not sure quite what's going on but looks as if male (unmated?) trying to muscle in on the chick family. Anyone know if male Blackbirds are known to kill the chicks of a paternal parent?

I really wished they hadn't nested in my garden ... it's kind of stressful!

 

[Sue Wright]

First time I've tried a forum, but feeling so miserable about a nesting mistle thrush that I had to join. I live on a London street and about 3 weeks ago started hearing the strangest bird noise almost continually on the street. I eventually realised that the noise was a couple of mistle thrushes chasing off a couple of magpies. A couple of days later I finally realised they had a nest in the fork of a street tree, just above head height outside our house. Then I realised that the magpies were nesting in the very next tree, and seemed to spend all their time harrassing the thrushes. I couldn't bear it any more, so called a tree surgeon to remove the magpie nest (for a hefty sum I might add) and they promptly remade. I again had the nest removed and this time he cleared up the twigs and removed a crucial branch (slightly cheaper 2nd time!). I then settled down to await the new arrivals. And I wait still..... I am so upset to see this bird sitting on her nest 8 days after the maximum incubation period. Evidently, the magpies must have meant that at some point the eggs got cold at the start, so she must be desperately trying to incubate dead eggs. Even her partner appears to have abandoned her - I haven't seen him for days, yet still she sits. It brings tears to my eyes just writing this. I just wish she'd give up and start again. I really thought that a bird would be able to tell if its eggs were dead.

I really can't believe the lengths some people will go to to select which Birds can breed and which have absolutely no right to. I'm just so glad I don't live on the same street and witnessed all the above because I'd have reported you for sure, the tree surgeon too!

Please don't mess with nature n such a way again, it sorts itself out which is exactly what it's supposed to do. Yes, it can appear cruel at times, but that's the reality of it.

Sue.

 

[razorsharp]

As if Magpie and cats aren't enough ..... !

Since I returned home from work this evening, I've chased two different cats out of the garden and now just witnessed a bizarre episode with an intruding male Blackbird. 'My pair' defending the nest site, the male just returning with a beak full of worms, gave chase round the tree for several minutes, female came to the rescue, both trying to get between intruding male and the nest. Female launches at the intruding male which flies off chased by the Female's mate, worms and all with a squawking Magpie entering the frey!

Not sure quite what's going on but looks as if male (unmated?) trying to muscle in on the chick family. Anyone know if male Blackbirds are known to kill the chicks of a paternal parent?

I really wished they hadn't nested in my garden ... it's kind of stressful!

I've never heard of blackbirds killing other blackbird's chicks, I don't know if it does hapeens or not. But those blackbirds seem to have everything thrown at the(as nature would have it, (except the cats!!) ) I hope they manage to raise their chicks.

 

[ColonelBlimp]

I could deal with magpies predating as it is what they do to survive, and they are indigenous anyway.

Whether I could say the same thing about the x million cats here who are not taking eggs/chicks/birds to survive but for fun, to then return to a nice warm fire and a bowl of Iams, is a different matter.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Just because something is unlikely to hold up in court doesn't make it legal, its still a crime

My point on this, though you might wish to call it nit-picking, and no problem if you do, is two-fold. First, when someone comes onto a forum for the first time, instead of laying in with accusing them of breaking laws, maybe first welcome them to the forum (which nobody did), then sympathise with their 'problem', but at the same time see if they can't be persuaded by an argument that gives reasons why the Magpies shouldn't be persecuted. Putting them on the defensive does not seem the best way to me, maybe it does to others.

The second point is simply stick to the facts, discussions are far better without exaggerating a point - removing a twig is not illegal, show me anywhere the law says 'a bird flying along with a twig in it’s beck and it lands on the branch of a tree, then flies away leaving the twig on the branch, that is legally considered to be a nest' - the website that this was copied from merely made its own interpretation.

End of input on this thread, you'll be happy to hear. Off outside to clear a few twigs from the apple trees that my storks left there accidently, do hope the police don't arrive!

 

[deborah4]

I'm sorry if that seems harsh, it's upsetting if one particular pair of birds you've been watching falls foul of another, but believe me, the birds just get on with it regardless! We don't own them and shouldn't interfere to this extent.

I can totally understand you being upset but predation is something we all have to come to terms with when we become more involved with watching the wildlife on our doorstep. It only seems more ''personal'' because you've been watching this particular pair ... it all balances out in the end, let Nature take it's course.

Well I can understand your sentiments but don't agree unfortunately. We all have different perspectives on the wildlife around us, but often it's far more 'anthropomorphic' in it's thinking than perhaps is justifiable on scientific grounds. Just because we might think we have too many Magpies for our own liking and don't see enough of another species for our own liking, that's the way it is. There is no evidence to suggest that Magpie predation effects longterm populations of Thrush or any other species.

Hi Alioli

If there is anything you don't understand about the above comments, or anything in them you find offensive, do PM me. As for the Law it is as it stands - removal of wild bird nests is illegal unless you have a Defra issued license, in which case, you're fine

I hope it's been made clear, that we all sympathise with your feelings regarding predation, so hopefully you realise that (as well as being well versed in the legal situation which also needed stating ). (ps. welcome to BF, enjoy the birds you see and hope you participate in future, although, you probably now realise that you won't find many members condoning destruction of nests)

 

[razorsharp]

End of input on this thread, you'll be happy to hear. Off outside to clear a few twigs from the apple trees that my storks left there accidently, do hope the police don't arrive!

Ah the sarcasm, always appreciated.......

 

[KnockerNorton]

Only a landowner, or someone with the permission of the landowner, can remove the nest of a magpie. And you'd have to prove that this was necessary in the interests of public health, livestock or conservation. As Mistle Thrushes are common, the latter would not be an option, and none of the others would stack up either. You'd also have to PROVE that there was no alternative, and that you had tried other methods. As this nest was on the street, and not your tree, you would need the permission of the council, who would have to meet the above criteria. So the tree surgeon clearly broke the law, and he should have known that too, seeing as he climbs trees for a living. The maximum penalty for this is a £5000 fine or 6 months in jail. Nests can only be removed outside of the breeding season, when they're not being used.

The laws are there for a reason, to prevent the persecution displayed here.

 

[JennyR]

Taken from RSPB website regarding legal status of Magpie's

Magpies are fully protected by the European Union Birds Directive. The UK Government has derogated (made an exception) from the Directive in relation to control of magpies. Under annual general licence issued under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (for which it is not necessary to apply individually), magpies may be killed or taken by authorised persons, using permitted methods, for the purposes of:

* preventing serious damage to agricultural crops or livestock
* preserving public health/air safety
* conserving wild birds.

An authorised person is a landowner or occupier, or someone acting with the landowner's or occupier's permission.

 

[liz1941]

Hi just joined as I was searching for info on blackbirds and came across this posting. I know the original post was dated May 2006 but as the OP was querying whether it was a magpie or squirrel that had taken the chicks, I thought I'd tell you what I'd seen this evening whilst looking into the garden.

There were a couple of blackbirds (one male, one female) chasing a magpie across a neighbour's roof. I just thought that they were chasing it away, but then the magpie stopped and I realised it had a bird in its mouth. The other two birds tried in vain to rescue the bird, (surely too early to be a fledgling, especially this year?) but without success. I watched for a couple of minutes or so and my husband came to see what I was looking at. In the end the two birds chased off the magpie, but as it flew across the garden, I could see that it did indeed have a bird in its beak.

The other two birds were clearly quite harassed and fluttered around backwards and forwards from the roof to some distant trees, where I presume they must have a nest, so maybe it was a fledgling.

So sad. For a few years now, there has been a lone magpie around the village. Last year he had a mate (where did she come from I wonder?) and now this year there are two pairs. So I suspect this nest raiding will happen more often.

 

[luidog]

Hi , I have found this thread very interesting and although not having alot of knowledge on the birding scene have had similar problems in the past and have witnessed magpie predation.
I may be wrong and would be gratefull if someone could put me right but do some large organisations that we know well not cull magpies in certain areas where there may be rare birds that could be predated on, and do you think this is also wrong legaly or otherwise.

 

[Adam W]

It is NOT illegal to destroy a Magpie nest, the general open licence allows certain speices to be killed or nests destroyed inculded on that list is Magpie aswell as other Corvids.

Not making any judgement on the moral rights and wrongs just trying to clear up the facts.


Edit: didnt realise the end of the first page wasnt the end of the thread, it would seem the legalities have been cleared up, its not illegal but as said only by the land owner or person authorised by them.