Magpie

[Will S]

Hi Guys

Im new around here and have a question which i hope someone can answer.

Earlier today we were in a park local to us with our kids when a magpie attacked and killed another bird. Im not sure of the name of the other bird but it was smaller than the Magpie. After the Magpie attacked the bird it dragged it into a bush and a few minutes later i looked into the bush to see that the poor dead bird seemed to be uninjured. It was certainly dead but im usure why the Magpie would attack the bird for no apparent reason? also it would seem it didn't do it for food so why did the Magpie attack and kill the bird?

[MrLouKnee]

maybe it'll come back later and munch it, or maybe it was a competitor for food. natures cruel isnt it.

welcome to the site as well

[Jenny W]

Sounds like perhaps the Magpie was disturbed (by passing dog/human?) before it had the opportunity to eat or carry off the prey.

[Will S]

thanks for your replies. I have to say it was quite a disturbing site and hard to explain to the kids. My 3 year old boy managed to see the dead bird but luckily decided that he was having a lie down. I have to admit i didn't realise Magpies were a bird of prey(if thats the right term)

[Fieldfare95]

Welcome to WAB

Originally Posted by Will S

i didn't realise Magpies were a bird of prey(if thats the right term)

They're actually a member of the crow family, so they will eat more or less anything, including live prey.

[snapewoodclayts]

Some smaller birds do fight back however.

Collared doves are more than capable of holding their own against magpies - they fluff themselves up to look bigger and just go for magpies in my garden. Thumbs up to the little guys !

Personally, I have no truck with magpies - I think they're stunningly beautiful birds, but probably the most skittish when around humans (years of being shot at tends to leave a mark on the DNA it seems).

This argument that they are evil etc, just doesn't wash with me. They are natural predators, and they have a place in the pecking order (pardon the pun) - without them we'd be overrun with smaller birds. Nature can be cruel, but their presence is vital to keep the balance right.

And I never hear people complaining about hedgehogs eating birds eggs

[Jenny W]

Beautiful in the hand (when ringing them).

[hobble]

Originally Posted by Will S

thanks for your replies. I have to say it was quite a disturbing site and hard to explain to the kids. My 3 year old boy managed to see the dead bird but luckily decided that he was having a lie down. I have to admit i didn't realise Magpies were a bird of prey(if thats the right term)

This is a good opportunity to explain to children the nature of wildlife. Most wild creatures have to feed from something however upsetting this may seem.
It is nature. I have been very upset by somethings I have witnessed but often have had to think rationally about why it happened.
No one wants to witness the death of any wild animal but by explaining this to young children early on will teach them about life and death out in the wild world.
As said earlier the magpie may have intended to eat the bird or take to feed to it's own young.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by snapewoodclayts

And I never hear people complaining about hedgehogs eating birds eggs

Except on the outer Hebrides where there has been a campaign to erradicate the Hedgehogs (that were introduced I believe) to protect ground nesting birds such as waders - although some people were up in arms about this!

Although some people are of the opinion that Magpies, and some other birds and animals, kill for fun, examples like this are likely to be a case of the predator being disturbed before it is able to enjoy it's meal - for wildlife there is usually nothing to be gained from expending energy to catch and kill if you don't get a meal from it.

Roy.