Carnage

[nightshade]

The Starlings in my eaves have been feeding a brood of young and the chicks in their eagerness ventured out after their parents and sat in the gutter calling for attention ,what arrived were a Crow a couple of Magpies and a Jackdaw within seconds it was quiet the Starlings investment for the future gone

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by nightshade

The Starlings in my eaves have been feeding a brood of young and the chicks in their eagerness ventured out after their parents and sat in the gutter calling for attention ,what arrived were a Crow a couple of Magpies and a Jackdaw within seconds it was quiet the Starlings investment for the future gone

I've seen magpies actually reaching under the troughing to get starling chicks in the past. Is it not possible they saw the 'baddies' coming and ducked back under to safety, keeping quiet in the process? Ever the optimist, eh.

Regards, Chris

[witham]

It can be upsetting when that happens, I know I get upset even angry especially when you almost get to know the birds that nest around the garden and who regularly use the feeders etc and I eagerly wait to see their offspring emerge, the fledglings seem to have it stacked up against then with so many predators waiting to pounce, I love the antics of Jackdaws but they are as bad and even a Woodpecker will take young given the opportunity, If I see any Crows or Magpies in the garden I shoo them off but I'm not about all the time so nature has to look after itself which I suppose is best really but sometimes as in all walks of life I think it needs a little help. Lets hope as has been said that they nipped back under the eves, but their instinct often is to freeze making them even easier targets.