Magpie nesting in a Building!!! (1 Viewer)

[WHIMBREL]

I've never seen or heard of this before - Magpie nesting in a Building - has anyone else? A mate of mine was sent to do some work in a storage building on a local farm, he was amazed to find a Magpie had managed to construct a nest on the roof girders.

When I took the photograph (this morning) I also spoke to one of the guys that uses the building daily, it's a pretty noisy environment and apparently only the female bird is left to rear three nestlings. When the doors are closed the only access is via a small opening above the doors either end of the building and all nest materials were brought in through this opening, a tight squeeze.

I wonder if this could be the start of Magpies using buildings to nest, much like their Jackdaw cousins, there are more Magpies about now than ever before, but this building is surrounded by prime Welsh upland farmland with plenty of suitable nesting sites...it's amazing!!!

Appreciate all or any views on this, the photo shows one of the nestlings waiting for food.

Bill

 

[Mary Evelyn]

Magpies do what they have to do and i think they will use anywhere, as they adapt.Nice pic.

 

[WHIMBREL]

Magpies do what they have to do and i think they will use anywhere, as they adapt.Nice pic.

But have you or any other Bird Forumer ever seen or heard of Magpies nesting in a building?

 

[Peewit]

But have you or any other Bird Forumer ever seen or heard of Magpies nesting in a building?

Hi Bill

I have never heard of any Magpies doing this before so it is interesting to know that they are adapt to any environment for nesting purposes.

Lovely picture

Kathy
x

 

[DaveN]

I'm relatively new to birding but it's something I've never heard of before.

 

[WHIMBREL]

Hi Bill

I have never heard of any Magpies doing this before so it is interesting to know that they are adapt to any environment for nesting purposes.

Lovely picture

Kathy
x

Thank you Kathy and DaveN for your replies, I'm very interested to have as much input as possible on this particular thread Magpie nesting in Building because we could be seeing a dramatic change in corvid habit, or then again is this just a very rare occurrence? What do you think.

Bill

 

[mike from ebbw]

I think it is certainly a rare occurance Bill.I have never heard of it or seen it before.For a bird as shy of man as a Magpie to chose to nest in a building when there is plenty of natural nesting sites around must be rare.Or are times changing.I recall a conversation we had a little while back about Swallows going back to nesting on cliffs in a local quarry rather than on a man made structure.

 

[luke]

As everyone knows, corvids are clever birds so i suppose we shouldnt be too suprised when we see odd behiviour like this. Given last summers rubbish weather, its probably a good move, but i am not saying that they remembered last years weather. or did they?.....

 

[WHIMBREL]

I think it is certainly a rare occurance Bill.I have never heard of it or seen it before.For a bird as shy of man as a Magpie to chose to nest in a building when there is plenty of natural nesting sites around must be rare.Or are times changing.I recall a conversation we had a little while back about Swallows going back to nesting on cliffs in a local quarry rather than on a man made structure.

Mike,

Thank you for replying, as you so rightly point out Magpies are so wary, but this nest is directly above an area where men are often working noisily, they seem pretty unconcerned. Some of the sticks used for the nest are quite long and it must have taken quite an effort to get them through the small gap above the doors, my admiration for their adaptabilty is huge, I think their handsome rogues.

I can remember our chat about the Swallows you saw nesting on the quarry, again it prove the exception to the rule does'nt it Mike, we can never say never about anything in nature.

Cheers Mate,

Bill

 

[WHIMBREL]

As everyone knows, corvids are clever birds so i suppose we shouldnt be too suprised when we see odd behiviour like this. Given last summers rubbish weather, its probably a good move, but i am not saying that they remembered last years weather. or did they?.....

Luke,

Clever indeed, they built this nest where they get light from a translucent sheet in the roof!!!...can you imagine the advantage these nestlings have when we get storms like we've had this bank holiday weekend. Perhaps they do know something about climate change that us humans don't...|:S|

Best Wishes,

Bill

 

[GaryH]

Very intersesting behaviour Bill, I've never heard of Magpies nesting indoors. I have however come accross other birds "adapting" to their surroundings, particularly if the male is trying to hold his territory. Have a look at this Lapwing nest I found last year, the male seemed determined to hold his patch despite the continuing industrial developments and tree felling nearby. He's attracted a female again this year and I've found a clutch surrounded by small trees!
I would be interested to know if anyone else has found a Lapwing nest like it?

Gary

Damn, I can't insert a photo here for some reason so I've put one on the Gwent Birding forum.

 

[WHIMBREL]

Gary, you are having trouble inserting a photo here and I'm getting 'critical error' messages trying to get onto the GOS photo gallery to see your Lapwing photo!!!

Yes, it is incredible how adaptable our birds have become, indeed they have to survive all the different pressures we and mother nature put them under. I can remember when our 'Hills where alive with the Sound of Lapwings' (Ugh!!!!!!) but not anymore, your priviliged to be able to see Lapwings anywhere these days.

Thanks for your reply,

Bill

PS. I'll go back later to see if I can get onto the Photo Gallery on GOS.