pesky magpies

tattmaylor · #1 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 06:52 PM

is there any way of stopping magpies from pestering a nesting box containing bluetit chicks in our garden?the box is about 8 foot up on a telegraph pole with very little surrounding cover-I will be planting shrubs nearby this week but not directly underneath.

hobble · #2 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:08 PM

I would when you see them clap your hands to put them off and keep on doing this when you see them, eventually they will get fed up with it, hopefully.

Daisychain · #3 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:24 PM

We have the same problem, there are so many magpies here they drive us (& the other birds) mad.....!! I know its nature but they're very mean to the little birds.

Last year they kept waking us up really early, my neighbour got so fed up he was out in the garden at 5am chucking his boots at them.... I had to laugh...

Pippa · #4 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:25 PM

Sorry, but nothing to my knowledge works.If you are there and see them as Hobble says ,you can then scare them off.

Working full time,we have lost many Blackbird chicks as well as others over the years to the Magpies and other predators.

Pippa · #5 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daisychain

We have the same problem, there are so many magpies here they drive us (& the other birds) mad.....!! I know its nature but they're very mean to the littble birds.

Last year they kept waking us up really early, my neighbour got so fed up he was out in the garden at 5am chucking his boots at them.... I had to laugh...

Sorry Daisy cross posted.

They are mean ha ha but your neighbour was rather more stressed at his lack of sleep, me thinks

Nasty man

Daisychain · #6 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pippa

Sorry Daisy cross posted.

They are mean ha ha but your neighbour was rather more stressed at his lack of sleep, me thinks

Nasty man

He wasn't best pleased!! He's since moved, maybe the magpies got too much for him....!!

Pippa · #7 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daisychain

He wasn't best pleased!! He's since moved, maybe the magpies got too much for him....!!

Anyone who has to listen to magpies first thing must go mad after a while ha ha

I did

Northumbrian bir · #8 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 07:58 PM

i have a pair of collard doves outside the house on eggs at the momment- theres a magpie quite often tries to get into the shrub they are nesting in- whenever i see it i squirt it with a high powered water pistol (not often hitting like!)- after a few attempts it seems to have given up and the doves are in peace at the momment!

RobinP · #9 (**permalink**) 31-03-2009, 08:02 PM

Unfortunately Magpies are persistent beggars and you can't be looking out for them all the time so eventually they will get through unless you take radical steps to remove them from the vicinity. The choice is yours if you feel at ease with this.