magpies are lurking!!!!!

[jarjar]

theres alot of magpies in my area. when my blue tits fledge what can i do to help them. i can see them being eating within seconds

[The Woodman]

So they are your Magpies as well?

[jarjar]

there my tits. theres plenty of food for nature like insects. you dont see me eating your child do you.

[2dogs2000]

I know we become protective of our fledglings and nature is quite often seen as cruel, but...Magpies eat fledglings .... that is part of nature. There is nothing you can do about it.

[solus]

That's nature! Well Magpies are, and there really is nothing you can (or should) do to "save" "your" Tits. [Cats though are a different matter and should be kept away as far as possible.]

[The Woodman]

No, I don't see you eating my child neither do you see Magpies eating their children or tits eating theirs. What about the tits eating the caterpillars of those beautiful moths? The majority of us (humans) eat other mammals though. Put it all in perspective, it's how all living things exist.

Sorry, I don't see the tits as yours any more than the magpies or the insects in your garden / living space.

Good God - frozen already!

[RKB]

An average adult Blue Tit lives to breed twice, meaning it will fledge around 15-20 young during its life. Over that time, only two of them need to survive, including the parents, for the population to remain stable. So that's about 5 Blue Tits dying every year for every one that survives. That's why they raise so many young - because they are near the bottom of the food chain.

So they are taking care of themselves - it's built into their biology.

Magpies are not known to be a major predator of Blue Tit fledglings, which are very mobile and able to fly as soon as they fledge. Sparrowhawks are the major predator.

But, in fact, Blue Tits have been increasing for the past 50 years. So Magpies and Sparrowhawks can't be that much of a problem for them.

Relax.

[marysharp1944]

jarjar, I can sympathize! I have a similar problem with magpies but I've got some help I've worked me husband up about it and he's currently in the process of shopping for an air gun. Magpie be gone...

Perhaps its cruel; but my husband is not going to be a good shot anyways so hopefully a few misses should deter the magpies enough.

best of luck!

[RKB]

Originally Posted by marysharp1944

jarjar, I can sympathize! I have a similar problem with magpies but I've got some help I've worked me husband up about it and he's currently in the process of shopping for an air gun. Magpie be gone...

Perhaps its cruel; but my husband is not going to be a good shot anyways so hopefully a few misses should deter the magpies enough.

best of luck!

It is actually illegal to just start taking pot shots at Magpies (or any other bird) in a garden setting. Magpies are actually protected unless you can demonstrate that they are causing a significant problem to wildlife, commerce or public health. Not just if you think they are. Unless you have commercial interests (such as gamebirds) or rare wildlife (such as Stone Curlews) that are at risk from egg stealing, you would be unlilkely to be able to defend your actions in court.

We don't shoot Blue Tits just because they eat the butterfly caterpillars. Killing one animal because it is a predator of common prey species is also unethical.

You might want to read this, particularly the last page which talks about the legality and scientific basis. http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs...../Magpies.pdf

[smokeyjofencing]

I feed all the birds in my garden, Magpies included as well as a pair of Carrion Crows, they take the fat balls that I throw down onto the lawn.

I have a pair of Blue Tits that have been coming to the garden for the last few years, or maybe their offspring. They bring their fledglings to my garden every year, I have never seen the magpies take one of them. The Magpies are actually decreasing in number compared to all the other birds we see.

I despise guns and anyone that uses them, apart from our brave forces boys.