Magpies in garden - any advice appreciated (1 Viewer)

[Mary Evelyn]

There's the option of humanely trapping them and taking them somewhere else, but that's not usually a good idea, because they might have fledglings to feed.

Hi Liz, in this country that isn't an option.........I hope,it wouldn't work either.

As i said ,here they are profuse and they come into my garden all the time.Their sound doesnt justify, how beautiful they are, it's pretty awful.

Hi Subridle
I am wondering if unlike me because of the size of your garden you are unable to have dense cover .I have bird tables and feeders all round and the only time of year the Magpie is a problem is when youngsters are around but then so are the other predators.The Dense cover gives the birds a fighting chance and in over 20yrs of feeding, the only kills i have seen were by cats.Give me Magpies anyday.The cats do know they are going to be fed,so i don't understand the poster who said they did it because they don't know where their next meal is coming from, unless a feral cat ofcourse.
If we were talking about keeping cats out,i would agree with you that they have absolutely no use for the bird, except to usually pass it over as a present.I don't believe the Magpie does it for fun though.

I can't get my head around the aggressive Sparrows either .In America they are nasty, yet in our country they are just a little happy bird that doesn't seem troublesome at all.I used to have 100's visit along with a good variety of other birds and because of loss of habitat etc.(nothing to do with the Magpies)i have been reduced to around 30.

I don't think the Magpies will stay around your garden much longer though and then you can enjoy the return of the species you want.Although ,like other posters i don't think it is possible to be selective.

 

[chainwhip]

CDs

Not sure whether this really works or not but I read somewhere that hanging old CDs up from trees is supposed to discourage them from your garden.

 

[Jos Stratford]

you are not going to change my mind about the magpies. ...

They kill and torture for fun

Guilty of rape and pillage too, no doubt.

 

[subridle]

Guilty of rape and pillage too, no doubt.

Quite possibly! Who knows what they are capable of?

 

[subridle]

Not sure whether this really works or not but I read somewhere that hanging old CDs up from trees is supposed to discourage them from your garden.

Thanks. I think I might try this. It's what the rspb says to do too so worth a try.

 

[k-rina]

Thanks. I think I might try this. It's what the rspb says to do too so worth a try.

But wouldn`t that "discourage" ALL the birds ?

P.S. : Btw ... how do this birds look like ? I don`t find them in dictionarys ... are they big birds ?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Quite possibly! Who knows what they are capable of?

Capable of being part of the natural avifauna of suburbia if persons so let them

 

[subridle]

But wouldn`t that "discourage" ALL the birds ?

P.S. : Btw ... how do this birds look like ? I don`t find them in dictionarys ... are they big birds ?

I'm not sure if it would put all the birds off. That's a good point. I'll look at the rspb website again.
Magpies are really beautiful and intelligent birds. It's just their nasty streak I don't like!
Trying to find some good pictures for you. This is the best I could find in a couple of minutes.
I think they are a bit smaller than a carrion crow but bigger than a Jay

http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/birdseyeview/birds.php?order=Crows&specie=Magpie

 

[Capercaillie71]

Btw ... how do this birds look like ? I don`t find them in dictionarys ... are they big birds ?

They look like this:

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/97652/sort/1/cat/all/page/2

or this:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/m/magpie/index.asp

 

[subridle]

Capable of being part of the natural avifauna of suburbia if persons so let them

avifauna
n. birdlife of a region.

 

[k-rina]

oooooooh dear :bounce:


I know these birds I love them ! ... They are very corvine-like aren’t they ? Just a couple of weeks ago a magpie got into my mom’s kitchen and stole a sausage it was a hilarious thing to watch :'D
I whould love to have them around, as I said they behave very similar to corvins, and I am fascinated by corvins , they are pretty common in my area.
Anyway they are a bit too much for a small garden, I agree. And I know they are loud especially when they fight.

 

[greenmay]

I'm a new poster, so maybe I won't get as much respect on this issue, but I agree with you on wanting magpies out of the garden. We've had them (at my parents house) along with crows and it is quite depressing to just hear cawing and fighting instead of tweets and trills in the morning. And then I also agree with those who talk about appreciating the wildlife whatever it is.

The thing that I wanted to bring up is the fact that humans are animals too, and have every right to be just as terretorial as those magpies are. I have always thought about how silly it is for us humans to segregate ourselves from the other animals by sticking that name on them of "wildlife". Aren't we from the earth too? Aren't we every bit as wild as they? We just build more elaborate houses! Your garden is part of your "nest" and I believe you have the right to kick magpies out of it and welcome your old friends back.

 

[subridle]

I'm a new poster, so maybe I won't get as much respect on this issue, but I agree with you on wanting magpies out of the garden. We've had them (at my parents house) along with crows and it is quite depressing to just hear cawing and fighting instead of tweets and trills in the morning. And then I also agree with those who talk about appreciating the wildlife whatever it is.

The thing that I wanted to bring up is the fact that humans are animals too, and have every right to be just as terretorial as those magpies are. I have always thought about how silly it is for us humans to segregate ourselves from the other animals by sticking that name on them of "wildlife". Aren't we from the earth too? Aren't we every bit as wild as they? We just build more elaborate houses! Your garden is part of your "nest" and I believe you have the right to kick magpies out of it and welcome your old friends back.

Thank you so much! You put that so well and I totally agree.

 

[greenmay]

Thank you so much! You put that so well and I totally agree.

You're welcome! I have been watching my house sparrows more closely lately after someone said that they drive out other birds and it is so true! Yesterday there was a non-sparrow at my feeder and a male house sparrow came and actually grabbed its back with it's claws and lifted it off the feeder! I was shocked. I'm thinking of switching to pre-shelled seed because someone said they don't like it, but only after I see that their young ones have left the nest.

I might be a new bird-watcher, but I've studied humans all my life. I think we're quite conceited to think that we're not animals too. (We might give lip-service to it via primate theories, but in reality we think we're sooo good don't we?)

 

[PaulS]

I might be a new bird-watcher, but I've studied humans all my life. I think we're quite conceited to think that we're not animals too. (We might give lip-service to it via primate theories, but in reality we think we're sooo good don't we?)

I find it quite conceited to think you can decide what has or hasn't the right to feed in your garden.

Paul

 

[k-rina]

Let`s not exagerate. I understand that 5 Magpies in a small garden can be trouble for other birds, especially if they are nesting in the area ... but let`s stop at this and not cross the line. When you buy a painting you buy it because you like looking at it and it gives you "peace" ... but when you decide to take care of animals you don`t do it for the same reasons ..right ? I mean ... you want to HELP wildlife, not just benefit from its beauty !

 

[subridle]

You're welcome! I have been watching my house sparrows more closely lately after someone said that they drive out other birds and it is so true! Yesterday there was a non-sparrow at my feeder and a male house sparrow came and actually grabbed its back with it's claws and lifted it off the feeder! I was shocked. I'm thinking of switching to pre-shelled seed because someone said they don't like it, but only after I see that their young ones have left the nest.

I might be a new bird-watcher, but I've studied humans all my life. I think we're quite conceited to think that we're not animals too. (We might give lip-service to it via primate theories, but in reality we think we're sooo good don't we?)

I agree with that too. Humans do think they are so much better. And really the earth would be better off without us. (even though obviously I am trying to be controlling with which birds I want in my garden!)

I have never had that problem with sparrows in my garden. I think I get about 30 at most at one time and I have never seen them be aggressive to other birds at all. Only with each other. They used to share the sunflower seed feeder with the tits, greenfinches and collared doves quite happily. Then I started putting a mixed seed feeder out a few feet away and they pretty much monopolise that on their own. That's their favorite.
I have read a few posts saying about english sparrows being aggressive but never seen it myself. I will keep an eye on them over the weekend.
I always think that the birds all live together in their different species really well. I only ever really see them having a go at their own. Especially the starlings and goldfinches.

 

[subridle]

I find it quite conceited to think you can decide what has or hasn't the right to feed in your garden.

Paul

Why is that conceited? It's my garden. I spend a lot of money on feeders, bird food, making sure I have the right trees, plants, weeds etc. I would not say that it's conceited at all.

 

[greenmay]

Why is that conceited? It's my garden. I spend a lot of money on feeders, bird food, making sure I have the right trees, plants, weeds etc. I would not say that it's conceited at all.

:bounce:

"Why punish magpies for being so successful?"

Why punish humans for being so successful?

 

[Evanji Axu]

Oh man, my misanthropic asexual friend would have a field day with this thread.

So your magpies eat other birds? Nature may be beautiful, but nature can also be very harsh. I remember seeing a crow stealing a baby mockingbird from its nest, complete with chasing parents. It really shook me up, but do I hold a grudge against crows? No.

I suggest luring them to another part of your yard with scraps.