Magpies killing other birds?

[newgardener]

Hi,

I went into my garden yesterday after hearing lots of bird noise. It seems I disturbed a huge magpie that was attacking a fully grown blackbird. Feathers everywhere and one dead blackbird. Is this normal? Will other birds now avoid my garden? Is there anything I can do to discourage the (very oversized) magpie from my garden in future?
Many thanks

[posie]

..Hello and welcome to WAB..

..Magpies and all crows really, will take eggs or babies from nests, and fledgelings that have left the nest...I expect your blackbird was protecting one of the above... problem is that if magpie didn't get babies or fledgelings, they will now have only one parent to feed them, so keep an eye out for the other parent bird, see if it is feeding young, either in or out of the nest... and under the circumstances you could put suitable food out to help it keep up the supply on it's own, if this is the case. Put the food in a discreet place that will not attract the Magpie from above ..Don't really know how to stop the magpie, he/she is probably doing it to feed it's own young, it's the food chain I'm afraid....Hope this helps...Posie

[newgardener]

Thanks so much Posie, good point about the single parent blackbird family. Is there anything you can recommend food wise? Bird feeder, or table for example? Currently I just throw bread onto the lawn, but I guess this will just attract the Magpie too?

[posie]

..Hello again...if you Google..'blackbird food' it gives loads of info, what parents eat, and fledgelings should the worst happen, but if you give the blackbird a good supply of food it should all be ok....apparantly worms are good, which will be easier for bird to get if you keep part of garden and/or lawn well watered and you could supply some mealworms to help if one parent is doing all the work.. also you could put the food under bushes if you have some..... the food the bird gives it's chicks also supplies them with fluid..... and leave some water out in case parent bird needs it. It doesn't really matter what you put the food on, but don't use anything that will attract the magpie.....eg white or coloured dishes...Magpies are very intelligent when it comes to food....If you do have a one-parent family of blackbirds, supplementing the food supply will help in another way..ie..the babies yelling for food if hungry will also attract the magpie...I would just put some suitable food supplement under the bushes, and a dark dish of water also under bushes, and well water an area for worming....This area could be under bushes too, but make sure you don't water any fledgelings......Posie..