Regarding Magpies, in years gone-by there were little or no cars, and Magpies were not able to survive the winter as easily as they are now due to the high levels of roadkill, especially in rural areas. This, along with other factors such as urban adaptation have led to the Magpie being hugely successful (UK population increasing 6% per year since 1940), which IS having a big impact on songbird numbers, due to egg/nestling predation. People need to realise that nature will not "find its own balance", or any of the other cliches so readily banded about by ignorant armchair "nature lovers", the only effect a thriving population of predators (such as the Magpie)not solely dependant on songbirds will have is to futher decimate declining species until localised extinction occurs, after which it will simply shift to another food source.
I work in Wildlife management, and I know for a fact that the RSPB (although publicly denying the need for corvid control for fear of losing members)shoots Magpies and other Corvids and uses Larsen Traps to control these birds on their Reserves and Ternaries. They would not do this if it were not necessary!!!
New research recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology showed that where there were no magpies present, the reproductive output of song thrushes was much greater. This was well illustrated by two maps, one showing the distribution of magpies in Britain, the second showing the breeding success of song thrushes, and they demonstrated perfectly that where magpies were absent song thrushes thrived. A report entitled 'Large-scale spatial variation in the breeding performance of song thrushes and blackbirds', written by biologists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the University of East Anglia, concluded that nest failure rate during incubation increased significantly where Corvids were present, and that most predation was by the smaller Corvids, particularly magpies. The significance of this report is that it is very large and thorough, and backs up the work performed by other biologists on nest predation in urban parklands by magpies, which is having a considerable impact on the local blackbird population.
Please consider these points, whilst a magpie may be entertaining to watch and certainly striking to look at, we could lose the dawn chorus altogether in years to come if we do not do something to control its numbers, and help songbirds in other ways such as winter feeding and providing nesting cover (uncut hedges etc).
Songbird Survival is an excellent charity working to help songbirds, and is well worth a look.
Cats and magpies are responsible for the decline in garden and song birds I see at this time of year parent starlings chasing the magpies that have just helped themselves to their young ones and today the pair raided the collard dove's nest They regularly 'fish' from rocks surrounding my pond for tadpoles The only good thing about a magpie is its looks. My dogs keep away the cats but has anyone any suggestions how to rid my garden of magpies PLEASE
I love magpies, they're beautiful and noble, but they eat out the birds in their territories.
So, I just shot two of them, the first set all the other local magpies off with their rattling alarm calls, the second was young bird being hassled by a cat.
I've noticed that there are blue tits everywhere, doves are out and about, and a hawk swung through earlier too... but no magpies... maybe they've put out an alarm call to be wary of this patch.. there were dozens a few days ago, but after their calling to each other.. they seem to have gone elsewhere.
Good job done..at least the other local birds will get a chance to fatten up throughout this summer.
"So, I just shot two of them, the first set all the other local magpies off with their rattling alarm calls, the second was young bird being hassled by a cat."
If your worried about things "eating other birds out of their territories", then you should have shot the cat instead of the bird.
But, ooh, society thinks cats are perfect. Interesting you are all worried about songbirds and their decline due to magpies (a natural animal, that has been subject to increased numbers by human influences), yet the human induced introduced cat-predation which would be huge is ignored using "cats are pretty" mentality.
Once again a native in increased numbers get the raw end of the deal over the introduced pest doing the same problems.
I don't disagree with well planned, studied magpie culls either, I do disagree with two different rules for natives and introduced pets but.
Don't shoot them, otherwise you'll have lots of objecting comments. Personally, I tolerate mice in my compost bins, but not rats. If either are really bothering you then start again, but don't put any kitchen waste in, use a wormery instead.
Have just bought a house in Barking, mainly because of it's lovely garden - however it has been colonised by a fox which has practically destroyed the lawn, has left mess everywhere, dug up the irrigation pipes; and generally is causing mayhem. I do not want to harm it (and any other of its relatives) but would like to encourage it to move on! Does any one have any positive suggestions? Do the repellents "scoot" etc work? What about Lion Dung? Thanks in anticipation!
Reply to Liz.dove You will either have to drive the fox away by patrolling regularly or trying to dissuade it by making your garden as inhospitable as possible. Though an unpopular action with some, your local council might be able to put you in touch with a licensed marksman who will take the final drastic action of shooting it.
I saw a magpie today, swooped down and catch a live field mouse - is this normal behaviour? I also spoke to a farmer who said they're a nuisance at lambing time - as soon as the lambs are born they peck their eyes.. nasty
Posts
I work in Wildlife management, and I know for a fact that the RSPB (although publicly denying the need for corvid control for fear of losing members)shoots Magpies and other Corvids and uses Larsen Traps to control these birds on their Reserves and Ternaries. They would not do this if it were not necessary!!!
New research recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology showed that where there were no magpies present, the reproductive output of song thrushes was much greater. This was well illustrated by two maps, one showing the distribution of magpies in Britain, the second showing the breeding success of song thrushes, and they demonstrated perfectly that where magpies were absent song thrushes thrived. A report entitled 'Large-scale spatial variation in the breeding performance of song thrushes and blackbirds', written by biologists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the University of East Anglia, concluded that nest failure rate during incubation increased significantly where Corvids were present, and that most predation was by the smaller Corvids, particularly magpies. The significance of this report is that it is very large and thorough, and backs up the work performed by other biologists on nest predation in urban parklands by magpies, which is having a considerable impact on the local blackbird population.
Please consider these points, whilst a magpie may be entertaining to watch and certainly striking to look at, we could lose the dawn chorus altogether in years to come if we do not do something to control its numbers, and help songbirds in other ways such as winter feeding and providing nesting cover (uncut hedges etc).
Songbird Survival is an excellent charity working to help songbirds, and is well worth a look.
So, I just shot two of them, the first set all the other local magpies off with their rattling alarm calls, the second was young bird being hassled by a cat.
I've noticed that there are blue tits everywhere, doves are out and about, and a hawk swung through earlier too... but no magpies... maybe they've put out an alarm call to be wary of this patch.. there were dozens a few days ago, but after their calling to each other.. they seem to have gone elsewhere.
Good job done..at least the other local birds will get a chance to fatten up throughout this summer.
If your worried about things "eating other birds out of their territories", then you should have shot the cat instead of the bird.
But, ooh, society thinks cats are perfect. Interesting you are all worried about songbirds and their decline due to magpies (a natural animal, that has been subject to increased numbers by human influences), yet the human induced introduced cat-predation which would be huge is ignored using "cats are pretty" mentality.
Once again a native in increased numbers get the raw end of the deal over the introduced pest doing the same problems.
I don't disagree with well planned, studied magpie culls either, I do disagree with two different rules for natives and introduced pets but.
Order of culling: 1 - Cats. 2 - Magpies
Don't shoot them, otherwise you'll have lots of objecting comments. Personally, I tolerate mice in my compost bins, but not rats. If either are really bothering you then start again, but don't put any kitchen waste in, use a wormery instead.
You will either have to drive the fox away by patrolling regularly or trying to dissuade it by making your garden as inhospitable as possible. Though an unpopular action with some, your local council might be able to put you in touch with a licensed marksman who will take the final drastic action of shooting it.