Magpies, killing for fun

[AndrewA123]

we experienced the same thing here last year, a blackbird nest we'd been watching in bushes outside the office was suddenly attacked by 4 magpies and the chicks taken away.

I'd assume for food as there was no evidence of any bodies being left behind, but the nest was left in tatters and parent birds haven't nested in the same place this year. (2 previous years we've had blackbirds in the same nest bush)

[Wild-Woman]

It really is a case of survival of the fittest. Blackbirds that have concealed their nests well will raise young that will hopefully do likewise. Nature does not afford the luxury of faults and predators take advantage of any.
Corvids learn quickly but in doing so, sometimes fall victim themselves eg- roadkill and becoming roadkill themselves.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Hi Gazz,

The experts you asked weren't the Songbird Survival Trust by any chance?

Cheers,

Adam

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Hi Gazz,

The experts you asked weren't the Songbird Survival Trust by any chance?

Cheers,

Adam

Mmm. The thought had crossed my mind Adam.

[dave culley]

Magpies kill all nestlings so they cannot escape the nest so it can keep on returning for the prey,they do it in gangs and then learn all juv magpies how to do it along with gangs of jays.

they sit in early stages of nestbuilding watching where all song birds nest then usually return as chicks reach 8 days old onwards.

1 pair last year killed 20 song birds in a morning,songbird population is down so im told magpie population has trebled.

yesterday goldfinches were killed here just missed the killing but caught it coming back to check for more. MAGPIE AT GOLDFINCHNEST on Vimeo

magpie at longtailed tit nest. MAGPIE AT WORK on Vimeo

i do dislike there way of killing chicks in a nest, if a human killer went on a rampage killing babys in a maternity hospital i think we would look at him different than your normal killings.

[wizzo]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I didn't want to get embroiled in this but still maintain that birds and other animals do not kill for fun or sport. They have no concept of this.

Humans aside...of course!

[wizzo]

Originally Posted by dave culley

Magpies kill all nestlings so they cannot escape the nest so it can keep on returning for the prey,they do it in gangs and then learn all juv magpies how to do it along with gangs of jays.

they sit in early stages of nestbuilding watching where all song birds nest then usually return as chicks reach 8 days old onwards.

1 pair last year killed 20 song birds in a morning,songbird population is down so im told magpie population has trebled.

yesterday goldfinches were killed here just missed the killing but caught it coming back to check for more. MAGPIE AT GOLDFINCHNEST on Vimeo

magpie at longtailed tit nest. MAGPIE AT WORK on Vimeo

i do dislike there way of killing chicks in a nest, if a human killer went on a rampage killing babys in a maternity hospital i think we would look at him different than your normal killings.

This would suggest that Magpies are somehow, 'unhinged' or malicious psychopathic killers and I'm sorry, but that is ridiculous.

[aeshna5]

Magpie numbers have been fairly stable for some years. As for songbirds some have declined, some are stable + others are increasing.

Most of those that are declining are either long distance migrants and/ or habitat specialists. I'm not aware of studies that implicate Magpies or Sparrowhawks or any other avian predator in forcing a decline.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by dave culley

Magpies kill all nestlings so they cannot escape the nest so it can keep on returning for the prey,they do it in gangs and then learn all juv magpies how to do it along with gangs of jays.

they sit in early stages of nestbuilding watching where all song birds nest then usually return as chicks reach 8 days old onwards.

1 pair last year killed 20 song birds in a morning,songbird population is down so im told magpie population has trebled.

yesterday goldfinches were killed here just missed the killing but caught it coming back to check for more. MAGPIE AT GOLDFINCHNEST on Vimeo

magpie at longtailed tit nest. MAGPIE AT WORK on Vimeo

i do dislike there way of killing chicks in a nest, if a human killer went on a rampage killing babys in a maternity hospital i think we would look at him different than your normal killings.

This sounds like propaganda to me..
Yes they take chicks but to feed their young..

Are you a member of SOSB..

[nikolai_avenger]

Originally Posted by dave culley

Magpies kill all nestlings so they cannot escape the nest so it can keep on returning for the prey,they do it in gangs and then learn all juv magpies how to do it along with gangs of jays.

they sit in early stages of nestbuilding watching where all song birds nest then usually return as chicks reach 8 days old onwards.

1 pair last year killed 20 song birds in a morning,songbird population is down so im told magpie population has trebled.

yesterday goldfinches were killed here just missed the killing but caught it coming back to check for more. MAGPIE AT GOLDFINCHNEST on Vimeo

magpie at longtailed tit nest. MAGPIE AT WORK on Vimeo

i do dislike there way of killing chicks in a nest, if a human killer went on a rampage killing babys in a maternity hospital i think we would look at him different than your normal killings.

A highly entertaining post for all the wrong reasons and as mentioned above, possibly propoganda, but I'll indulge you a while, Dave.

Pray tell, in your opinion, what should we do, rid the world of all animals that eat other animals' babies, or indeed any other animal at all? Goodness me. How long have you got? Yes, it may be unpleasant to think of (for some!) but it is nature in action. Although intelligent birds, I sincerely doubt corvids think along the lines of what may seem unpleasant to humans and to them it is simply an easy meal and an abundant food source at this time of year.

Like most other birds currently with young to feed. How about all those blue tits feeding the poor baby butterflies to their young?

Indeed I am not suggesting it is OK for humans to eat the babies of other humans but you need to get some perspective, sir, if you think it is wrong for magpies, which have evolved alongside their prey species naturally in an eco system, to eat that prey.

Cheers. Nik.