Magpies, killing for fun

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Whoever told you that is talking nonsense; I suspect that they're part of the anti-predator lobby - ignore them.

I agree entirely. If the incident as related can be believed at all ... there is nothing in a magpie's vocal repertoire that could realistically be described as 'cawing' ... then it more accurately describes the behaviour of magpies mobbing a predator, rather than them acting in that way as predators.

Avian predators strike, remove the whole victim and take it a safe distance to consume, or cache it. They don't typically hang about to dismember it at the nest whilst the parents are around and alerting, and especially not when other members of the clan are present and likely to steal the 'prize'.

Decapitating birds onsite, is typical only of a predator large enough to not be concerned about the mobbing activity of the parent blackbirds ... and I would have thought that a cat might well be the prime suspect here.

On hearing a blackbird alert, it is not at all uncommon for any other birds in the vicinity, including corvids, to join in the alert calling, or indeed the mobbing of the predator.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by gazz292

Then i saw one fly off with a nestling, and i sent the dog in to scare them off.

AARRGGHHHH!
By sending in the dog to scare them off you have deprived them of their meal. A bit like those simple folk you chase sparrowhawks off kills in their gardens. The magpies still have to eat so they will only go off and rob another nest, you have gained nothing by saving two chicks and causing the mapies to abandon the ones they had already killed.

Andy

[ForestPaul]

I was surprised this morning to see a magpie take a live adult siskin. The siskin was on the ground under the niger seed feeder when the magpie crashed onto it and mauled it before taking off with it. The other siskins just ignored it, continuing to feed as normal. Presumably they don't see magpies as a threat.

The siskins are here in large numbers at the moment and getting very bold; you practically have to shoo them away to refill the feeder. Their love of niger seeds seems to be outweighing any natural caution.

[~T~]

Originally Posted by ForestPaul

I was surprised this morning to see a magpie take a live adult siskin. The siskin was on the ground under the niger seed feeder when the magpie crashed onto it and mauled it before taking off with it. The other siskins just ignored it, continuing to feed as normal. Presumably they don't see magpies as a threat.

The siskins are here in large numbers at the moment and getting very bold; you practically have to shoo them away to refill the feeder. Their love of niger seeds seems to be outweighing any natural caution.

I've seen one take an adult sparrow too. I agree about the siskins, in winter huge numbers would visit my garden and seemed to have no natural fear of the local cats (with one in particular taking full advantage). I had to relocate feeders and take other measures to keep the cat away as at one point it was literally lambs to the slaughter