Magpies.

[rockyracoon]

Is there a way to discourage these from the garden without upsetting the other birds. I have blackbirds nesting in my honeysuckle and the magpies are terrorising them, the mother goes mad when they are about and really goes for them but it's a bit distressing. I know it's nature and all that but I can't stand it, I love watching the chicks grow. If discouragement won't work do you think distraction might, maybe trying to feed them in another part of the garden away from the nest.

Thanks :)

[andres]

I have found the best way is to put a feeder away from the other birds feeding stations and then I cook some pasta and put this out for them, They take most of it back to their nest and I think by doing this they fill their bellies and don't feel the need to attack the smaller birds and their young in the nests. It seems to work for our magpies and pasta or cheap cooked meat bits are only cheap.

[rockyracoon]

Thank you Andres, stupid question now, do I cook the pasta?

[snags]

''I know it's nature'' is the important point here, even though you find it 'a bit distressing' and 'can't stand it'.

Magpies don't have a huge effect on garden bird populations (probably no greater than cats):

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/magpie/effect_on_songbirds.aspx

[snags]

Some distraction methods:

- Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees to scare the predators away. Magpies don't like the way light reflects from the surface.

- GuardnEyes Scarecrow Balloon, available from Dazer UK.

- It may be possible to deter them by playing a tape of a crow or rook distress call.

[rockyracoon]

Hmmmm, I have the resident Crusty the Crow (noisy bastard) so the magpies are obviously not scared, do you not think the CDs etc would scare off the other birds? Don't mind them seeing off Crusty, but not my lil balckbirds.

[snags]

No idea, I guess you'd have to try it but doubt you'll find something that will only effect one specific bird species... other than an air rifle or catapult ;-p

[andres]

Yes Rockyracoon- I boil it for a few minutes just to soften it . Also if we have any leftovers they go into the dish. The jackdaws and hooded crows also use the same feeder.

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Andres, I'll give that a go and hope it works. In a couple of weeks it won't matter as the chicks will be gone and I'll grow a dense shrub so the blackbirds can nest safely next year.

Snags, I'd watch it if I were you, someone got flamed yesterday for suggesting an air rifle for similar activities ;)

[snags]

I saw that... huge overreaction.

[rockyracoon]

Wasn't it just.

Right, I'm off to kick the dog ;)

[Old_Geezer]

How do you cook pasta ? Boil it until soft. Probably about 10 to 12 minutes.

[whirlyhurly]

Beware you don't encourage rats with any of the fallen pasta.

[andres]

Whirlyhurly is right .Rats are everywhere as it is . In my case the maggies usually empty the dish but you would be as well checking to make sure no food goes on the floor. Assuming that your maggies also like pasta I would just boil it for about 5 mins just to soften it

[rockyracoon]

OG, I know how to cook it, I just wondered whether I had to.

Rats won't be a problem as I'll stick the food on next doors flat roof, the magpies seem to congregate there.

Thanks for all your replies :)

[rockyracoon]

Well, the nest is empty now, don't know if the chicks fledged or the magpies got them. No magpies or blackbirds in the garden all day.

Peace at last.

[EcclesCake]

I've just come home to find a magpie feasting on a baby blackbird while the parents go ballistic.

Opening the patio doors scared off the magpie and left me with two distressed blackbirds and a corpse. I dithered about removing the dead baby especially when I saw the mother sitting in a shrub looking down at the baby bird. This set me off wondering if birds have emotions and feel loss, is she mourning the loss of her baby?

The next time I turned round she was eating the baby so I think I now know the answer to my question!

[rockyracoon]

Jeez, you nearly had me in tears til I saw your last sentance. Nature sure is ugly sometimes.