magpies

[heskin]

should these be on the pest list?I read that there is no connection between low songbird numbers and high magpie numbers and that predation of nestlings is just natural predation so it balances out?

what do you think?

[m1.carson]

Hi heskin,

I think it depends which side of the fence you sit on, farmers say pests and bird lovers say beautiful, but they will take eggs and chicks from the nest.

There, thats been no help to you at all .

Max.

[jakdaw]

In my experience, where there is a high population of magpies, theres a low population of songbirds, this year alone, we have witnessed two blackbird nests raided by magpies, one longtailed tit nest completely torn to pieces, and a robin nest, also torn to pieces, all in a area 100 yard square, they're a plague, IMHO.

[Dogghound]

Interesting. They can cause alot of damage, although no more than human's do. They are natural and it is unfortunately part of nature, lets not forget that quite afew bird species raid nests in the same way not just magpies.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Interesting. They can cause alot of damage, although no more than human's do. They are natural and it is unfortunately part of nature, lets not forget that quite afew bird species raid nests in the same way not just magpies.

I agree, it's nature and natural for Magpies to take other young birds and usually happens more so when they themselves are feeding young. They're a beautiful bird. Raptors take other birds yet are not held in the same contempt, why is that ? Magpies have been living like this since the dawn of time and all the other birds are still around, they're not extinct and there was a time in this country when Magpie numbers were not controlled by man. Nature has a good way of balancing things out. Man does far more damage.

[zharca]

I'm afraid the food chain is how the world works and most prey species have lots of young to compensate. "Getting yerself et" is a fact of life for pretty much all of creation and if it wasn't we'd be knee deep in Blue tits 'n bunnies!

I rather like the corvids and especially the Magpies. They are creatures of amazing intelligence and make very loyal and loving pairs. Often, when they visit our garden, one will keep watch whilst the other feeds, then they'll swop over.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I've been having this discussion for quite some time with people who would much rather have their gardens devoid of magpies, sparrowhawks, doves, and the such like.

No predator in it's right mind is going to eat itself out of existence by over predation, so as has been said it is all part of natural processes, which ultimately balance out.

In a BTO study it was found that magpies take about one-fifth the number of birds that domestic cats do.

The reason for the increase in Magpie numbers?
1. An increase in avian fast food through man-made rubbish at landfill sites/rubbish dumps, road kill, birds being fed in gardens.

2. A significant increase in the amount of poor quality scrub habitat through lack of management of other habitats, specific management to increase good quality scrub habitat for other nesting birds, and the scrubbing over of brownfield sites. All of which have created more nesting sites for magpies. If areas of poor quality scrub are cleared or managed effectively, then the numbers of magpies drop.

I'm sorry if my posting is rather dis-jointed but I am currently dealing with a bout of thick head cold with a complete loss of equilibrium.


Cheers,

Adam

[Kerry]

I have a large population of magpies and a large population of small birds. Birds eating other birds is nature and I can never understand why people have such a problem with the natural food chain. Habitat loss is far greater a threat to small birds than our beautiful magpies.

[rainmaker]

I think part of the problem appears to be that there are so many magpies - there certainly are where I am.

However, we also have masses of sparrows, no shortage of blackbirds and plenty of robins, tits, wrens, etc.

If I see a magpie raiding a nest, I'll scare them off, but I wouldn't deliberately perscute any wild species for living their natural lives. As for domestic animals (lets say, ummm, cats, for example), I find a hosepipe helps....

[tufftie]

We have lots of magpies here too - 7 in the garden the other day (no signs of gold yet, shucks!) but apart from house sparrows we have as many if not more birds in the garden and 10 more species than a few years ago. I think the house sparrows are to do with something other than magpies though - i stopped feeding wheat for a while to get rid of the hoovers, err mean feral pigeons. I got rid of most of the pigeons but also the sparrows.

oh, and yes hosepipes, water bombs anything that will get them wet will help - if you keep doing it they will give up and it works much better than the cat alert things that they get used to after a while. don't let the owner see though!