Why are magpies so cruel?

[linedancer16]

I've just had an upsetting morning! I've been watching a nesting pair of blackbirds for weeks now - building the nest, the male guarding its territory etc- until this morning when I had to rescue a very young baby from a magpie which had taken it from the nest and was viciously pecking at it. Why do magpies do this? The same thing happened next door last year. I rang my vet who said to bring it down but he said it was too badly hurt and too young to survive and the kindest thing to do was to put it to sleep. I dont know if there are any other babies in the nest as its deep in a hedge and I havent disturbed it. I know nature can be cruel but those two blackbirds had worked so hard and the mother blackbird must wonder what has happened to her baby. It's really spoiled my day!

[woofgang]

magpies aren't cruel like people because there is no pleasure in what they do. The bird is food. The blackbird will do exactly the same with worms....

[linedancer16]

Maybe but other birds dont regard babies as food.

[Mosaic]

They do, linedancer - most corvids (crows n magpies etc) are opportunistic and will eat anything that doesn't bite them back, especially carrion. Nature is not there to appease our finer feelings - I agree the killing is nasty to watch - I can't even watch the anglers on TV holding fish out of water - but all you can do is choose not to look. magpie is just being a really good magpie, to the best of it's magpie upbringing.

[McMouse]

Sorry dancer......in the natural world carnivores will eat the young of other species. Indeed some will even eat the young of their own species. Magpies are not cruel, they're just doing what is natural.

[Frank97]

Dog eat dog, it's a jungle out there Linedancer! I saw two ducks mating once, the only way I'd describe it was rape, very violent.

[mike11111]

Lor', love a duck!

[linedancer16]

I know animals kill other young and I never watch wildlife programmes because I find it too upsetting to watch, but I never put birds in the same category! I must be too easily upset 'cause all you people who've who've answered me dont think it anything out of the ordinary. I just wish there was something I could do to save any others that might be in there in case the magpie comes back for seconds! The female blackbird has gone into the hedge as I'm typing this.Thanks everyone!

[woofgang]

people see babies as food.....
You are right about the wildlife programs though, I think personally (and have said before) that some of them amount to a kind of savage voyeurism (lets see how many bloody kills and animals eating animals while still alive we can fit into an hour)

[starone]

Nature, red in tooth and claw!
I just saw a little bully of a robin driving the sparrows away from his territory.

[linedancer16]

Woofgang, you're right! ... people do see babies as food. I've never really realised that fully before. Is that part of the reason people become vegetarian?

[coccinelle]

Cuckoos aren't nice birds either. The female lays her eggs in different nests so in fact they are incubated by the host nests. When each cuckoo egg hatches the cuckoo then kicks the other just hatched birds out of the nest. This is so cruel as it isn't a need for food.

[woofgang]

Well indirectly it is as the parent birds then feed the cuckoo.

[rowanwitch]

and that cute fluffy squirrel will eat small birds if it can get them too... if it's any consolation the blackbird will raise more than one brood each year.... one solution is to give the magpie a softer option....put out a bowl of dogfood they love it and as corvids are pretty intelligent they will realise there is no need to hunt with protein on a plate nearby

[tamborine]

The magpies search for easy pickings to feed their young. Locate the magpie nest & push their chicks out to control the pests.

[ladybirder]

Linedancer if it's any consolation to you I have broken up a punch-up just this morning between two blackbirds protecting their nest and a magpie. The magpie was grabbing the female blackbird and a whole load of feathers went flying, the male bb was attacking the magpie and they were making a helluva racket. I broke it up and the magpie flew off and the blackbirds are still very upset and giving loud warning calls to anything that comes near. Babies safe for now but no doubt Mr M will be back.

[linedancer16]

I'm glad the blackbirds do win sometimes, Ladybirder. It does help to know that the blackbird will have another chance at raising another brood,Rowanwitch, and I'll also try putting out some dog food. Have to go now as I'm collecting for the RSPCA this afternoon outside Tesco-its RSPCA week this week. Thanks again everyone!

[LoftyLottie]

At the end of the day, nature left alone sorts itself out. The strongest survive and the weekend don't. It's only man who disrupts nature and it's best left alone. I hate to see the sparrowhawks take the birds in my garden, but they have to eat to and feed their chicks. Having sparrowhawks visit my garden indicates that my garden has a plentiful supply of birds for their food. We can't pick and choose which birds visit us and if you want a garden full of birds then you have to expect the predators as well.

[LoftyLottie]

Weekest, not 'weekend' ooops

[redman41]

It can be upsetting when you see that happening but as others have pointed out, it is natures way of dealing with itself. The Blackbirds may well have another brood of chicks and these may well all survive.
Interference by mankind is the cause of many problems in the natural world.

[LoftyLottie]

Hi Redman. You OK? xx