Getting rid of magpies
Discussion
Is there a way of specifically scaring off magpies. I am iritated by the noisy little f
kers at the best of times, but what I have witnessed over the past few days fills me with hate for them. It all kicked off on Sunday morning. They were doing their usual ASBO bit with their ugly sqwawking and flapping about in the fruit trees at the bottom of the garden, snapping off twigs etc. but then I noticed the proceedings had become even more frantic. This went on through most of the day and into Monday.
This morning I found the fruits of their labour
A nearly headless blackbird (male) and a female blackbird with both eyes pecked out. Scattered around them were the remains of a nest and possibly some chicks or eggs (hard to tell).
They could have done no harm to the magpies, but something in the magpies psyche has made them carry out this barbaric act. They are not even resident in my garden, but live two doors down. I only wish I had paid more attention to the earlier confrontation.
Magpies; the psychos of the bird world
kers at the best of times, but what I have witnessed over the past few days fills me with hate for them. It all kicked off on Sunday morning. They were doing their usual ASBO bit with their ugly sqwawking and flapping about in the fruit trees at the bottom of the garden, snapping off twigs etc. but then I noticed the proceedings had become even more frantic. This went on through most of the day and into Monday. This morning I found the fruits of their labour
A nearly headless blackbird (male) and a female blackbird with both eyes pecked out. Scattered around them were the remains of a nest and possibly some chicks or eggs (hard to tell).
They could have done no harm to the magpies, but something in the magpies psyche has made them carry out this barbaric act. They are not even resident in my garden, but live two doors down. I only wish I had paid more attention to the earlier confrontation.
Magpies; the psychos of the bird world
Edited by 911motorsport on Thursday 3rd June 10:35
Do you have land?
My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
911motorsport said:
I
A nearly headless blackbird (male) and a female blackbird with both eyes pecked out. Scattered around them were the remains of a nest and possibly some chicks or eggs (hard to tell).
Sadly this is what Magpies do for fun. They're nest stealers and very cruel birds. I find a .22 does the trick.A nearly headless blackbird (male) and a female blackbird with both eyes pecked out. Scattered around them were the remains of a nest and possibly some chicks or eggs (hard to tell).
Harry Flashman said:
Do you have land?
My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
Just a mid sized suburban garden unfortunately, so even an air rifle would be unsafe.My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
Just been reading up on something called a 'Larson Trap' though. Could be a goer
http://www.birdcare.com/birdon/birdcare/tipsheets/...
911motorsport said:
Harry Flashman said:
Do you have land?
My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
Just a mid sized suburban garden unfortunately, so even an air rifle would be unsafe.My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Or he just lets the dog out.
Our songbird population is well up this yearm, and the nesting boxes remain unmolested.
Just been reading up on something called a 'Larson Trap' though. Could be a goer
http://www.birdcare.com/birdon/birdcare/tipsheets/...
I feel your pain. Those bullying, squawking thugs of the bird world need a good slap. They even terrorise our cat and he will go after almost anything up to the size of small antelope.
A couple of weeks ago, a pair in our garden were going at a dove which was on the ground flapping around with one of its eyes pecked out. Shortly afterwards, a sparrowhawk swooped in and finished it off, so I don't know if the magpies started it or were just trying to get in on the action, but either way I was close to giving them a proper lesson that day.
As a suggestion, old CDs or DVDs strung up near to where the magpies congregate can help. Songbirds don't seem to mind them but magpies don't like the reflections for some reason. I've used this method to keep them away from feeders before.
You might not like the look of a load of CDs strung all over your garden though...
A couple of weeks ago, a pair in our garden were going at a dove which was on the ground flapping around with one of its eyes pecked out. Shortly afterwards, a sparrowhawk swooped in and finished it off, so I don't know if the magpies started it or were just trying to get in on the action, but either way I was close to giving them a proper lesson that day.
As a suggestion, old CDs or DVDs strung up near to where the magpies congregate can help. Songbirds don't seem to mind them but magpies don't like the reflections for some reason. I've used this method to keep them away from feeders before.
You might not like the look of a load of CDs strung all over your garden though...
Harry Flashman said:
Do you have land?
My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Absolutely, clever little blighters. My Grandparent's old house had a long garden with a large beech tree at the end, and my Gran absolutely loathes magpies, so she would let me snipe at them with an air rifle from her bedroom window (about 50 yards), they too used to leg it when a window was opened.My pa uses a .410 shotgun on the murderous thugs. This has worked so effectively that the birds fly off the moment a window or door is opened at my parents' home; if they are on the lawn close to the house, they will spook even if they see someone moving behind a closed window - they learn fast.
Edited by Elskeggso on Thursday 3rd June 11:55
Emsman said:
Do these work, long term? And I'm all for the squirrels and magpies being scared off by it, but what about the blackbirds, robins, finches etc.?Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff