| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| wellington womble |
MagpiesI know they have a bad name, and I don't want to make it worse, but I suspect them of having all 'my' fledgling robins. The nest is a mess and the box is squewiff. I don't think the robins could have done that.I understand that that's nature and all that, but I feel that songbirds needing all the help they can get, and Magpies are looking after themselves just fine. I can't see any other way of protecting the birds other than shooting the magpies - is it legal, and how do I find someone who will do it compentently? |
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| hardworkinghippy |
You should have a local gamekeeper or a trapper (I don't know English law any more. oops: ) who can put a Larsen cage on your property for a few days.
I hate killing them too, but last year they dropped my chicks from the air and left them writhing, they eat all the eggs, kill chicks in nests. They do need to be controlled if they reproduce too much. This year, we've got more song birds and our chickens aren't so stressed. 
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| wellington womble |
What's a Larsen cage? Whatever happens, I don't want them to know about it. | ||||
| TAVASCAROW |
Its a cage trap that catches them live using a decoy bird to attract the intended prey (Works on all corvids). E-bay have them for sale. Still legal in the UK as long as used properly. You can still legally shoot corvids (apart from ravens & choughs) as long as you have a reason like protecting poultry & game. |
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| Treacodactyl |
Re: Magpies
I wouldn't say it is just nature though, round here magpies flourish because of the way they scavenge on stuff left by people, so there seems to be an unnaturally high number attacking other birds. I've witnessed them kill chicks in our garden. To help protect nesting birds I've planted and encouraged some decently thick areas of thorny bushes; berberis, holly, hawthorn, blackthorn etc as well as some other decent cover and it seems to be working now. If you want some more info on the Larson Trap this might be worth a read: http://www.basc.org.uk/content/pestbirdspractice |
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| cab |
Robin was sitting on my fork yesterday, everytime I turned my back there he was. Little sod was eating my worms, he and Blackbird turn up to do that every time I dig over and spread muck. While Magpie does eat Robin and Blackbirds young, I'd be reticent to get involved in that unless it became a big problem. | ||||
| alison |
We had a magpie in the bathroom yesterday.
Really freaked me out. 
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| TAVASCAROW |
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| Andrea |
We had a robin in the house. I didn't mind, till it disgraced itself on the pillow. |
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| wellington womble |
I had a bat in the bathroom - himself thought I needed my eyes testing, and accused me of mistaking a daddy longlegs. We had to catch it and liberate it. Took ages, poor thing.
I'm really trying not to go down the 'robins are cute and sing, and magpies are nasty and cackle' route. I know they're both equally entitled to space, it just seems that songbirds are struggling, and magpies can look after themselves pretty well. As for the worms, well, I reckon I can spare a few, but there's only one robin in the garden. |
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| lottie |
We had the other problem last week---crows attacking a magpie nest and beautiful baby magpies tumbling down---just not quite fledged---their parents were distraught but couldn't do anything---we tried to help one that didn't seem injured ---but no luck 
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| Chez |
Ma uses a Larsen trap successfully - you do need someone who is prepared to wring their neck though. You can either use some kind of bait in them, or put chicks or something similar in the other half. They will also be attracted by another magpie that they don't recognise.
I don't think one needs to feel guilty about it - magpies are an extraordinarily successful species and they are a huge nuisance. We have a pair who regularly raise a family in the field opposite our house - I love watching them teaching their children to fly. But it means I can't let the broodies and chicks out in the garden until the babies are quite big. I think I'm right in saying that in 'the old days' gamekeepers would have kept the population down. |
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| Brownbear |
You can also finish them off with a .410 in the cage, or shoot them in the head with an air pistol at close range. | ||||
| Simon |
They been nicking all our eggs too. If I had a gun I would use it! Mag-Pie isn't a pun. |
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| lottie |
They've taken blackbird chicks here but haven't touched any of my chicks or ducklings at all, and there are plenty of them about---Magpies and chicks n ducklings. | ||||
| dpack |
nature ,darwin ,humbug
i was watching the hawks today |
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| woodsprite |
Gamekeepers still keep the numbers down.
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| wellington womble |
The focus of the investigation has shifted to a black and white visiting cat - the box was disturbed again, despite the nestlings all being eaten previously (definitely didn't fledge - I found the bits) The cat is unlikely to last long, due to the main road (regularly seen on both sides of it) which is also sad - I hate seeing anything on the road.
Anyway, I have found a solution (as I can't shoot the cat) I will protect the box with wire netting next year - big enough to allow robins in, small enough to keep nosy beaks and pesky paws out. No culling required, and happy robins etc. The cat has an owner, and I'm comfortable with allowing the corvids to fend for themselves elsewhere (I really didn't like the idea of culling them for sake of cuteness - it's only for our entertainment and smug-factor, hardly to protect our stock or anything) Thanks to all who suggested more drastic measures. |
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| Treacodactyl |
Can't say I've ever seen a cat attack a nest box; grey squirrels, foxes and magpies yes. I've seen cats kill young, fledged birds and various other wild life though so worth discouraging them.
If the opening of the nestbox is plain wood a metal cover with a suitable sized hole should prevent squirrels gnawing their way in. |
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| vegplot |
Magpies also indulge in tribal warfare. Opposing flocks will ambush each other and fight to kill. | ||||
| Kinnopio |
I was at the allotment and saw a raven killing a fledgling pigeon, in flew more ravens to help finish the task. I don't know if the plural term for ravens is the same for crows but a 'murder' of them seemed very apt! | ||||
| lottie |
There are red kites flying over our patch constantly----and they haven't taken anything either----although we did see one yesterday flying holding something that looked like a bird of some sort---whether fledgling or carrion we couldn't tell. If a buzzard goes over stuff hides under the hedge but they ignore the kites. |
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| Brownbear |
An unkindness of ravens. |
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| Ginkotree |
We have been lent a larson trap with "pet" magpie as a decoy. Have tried over the years to keep hens in and all that "be friends to everything stuff" but this year it seems generations of magpies are just waiting for me to feed them every morning. I have not had any eggs for weeks.With Jacks help in quick wring of the neck,we have reduced the number,of magpies. We chose wringing rather than shooting as I did not want to frighten the pet bird. even after the first day I got 4 eggs. The dawn chorus and evensong sound brighter and the mummy hens seem much more relaxed.Just trying to balance things out and give everything a fair chance | ||||
| Brownbear |
Not the nicest job in the world, but it's best to do it cleanly if it has to be done. Magpies wouldn't be so numerous if they didn't steal food from humans, so it's not as if you're upsetting the balance of nature - more like restoring it. |
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| lottie |
Spent alot of a lazy sunday watching the only young magpie to survive the crow attack burying bits of a rabbit---the cat had caught one and just eaten the head as usual----It ate some then it keeps tearing bits off and digging little holes with it's beak putting the meat in then covering it with grass I knew jays buried but not mapies. Ours have never been great egg thieves or chick takers---if they had I would do something---as it is I rather like them---they are so resourceful and opportunist. 
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| Ginkotree |
We like them too but when things get out of balance and corn has gone up and my eggs and chicks are going to magpies I cannot afford to feed them when I have two hunking boys to feed. We have fox up the hill, he comes and hides behind my shed when the hunt comes through and if I shut my hens in at night then we can share our space,I think I have lost more produce to the birds over the years than fox, the magpies get in the smallest of holes... I dont think we will wipe them all out , they will come back.... | ||||
| lottie |
There was no criticism----as I said if they were causing me problems[like they are for you] I'd deal with them as well-----it's b****y foxes we have a problem with.
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| mihto |
Setting: An empty house. Balcony door open. Participants: Cat sleeping in a sofa. Curious magpie hopping through to door. Unfolding event 1: Cat discovers arch enemy on home ground. Obviously total disagreement. Only common enemy stuffed goshawk on fireplace mantlepiece. The poor thing died a second death. Unfolding event 2: Negligent son returns home. The b..... had forgoten to close the balcony door. Next 20 minutes better forgotten. Son eventually wolleyballs offending bird out of an open window and throws black cat the same way (ground floor). Unfolding event 3: Son phones mom at work and describes the destruction. Feathers, hairs and copious amount of unmentionables everywhere. Potted plants on floor. Lounge an absolute mess. Mom nearly has heart attac from laughing. Unfolding event 4: Son gets 1 hour to clean the place up. Finale: Only lasting damage one extremely dead cactus. Conclusion: Too many magpies around for their own good.
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| lottie |
I was sat at desk in previous house when the cat brushed past my feet followed by terrific scuffling under desk----she'd managed to get herself and a large live magpie through catflap, which she then released and it went on top shelf---one bird c**p covered room and a ruined pair of kitchen gloves later I got it out. 
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| mihto |
Sometimes I wish I could draw and make childrens books the way Frank Muir does. What a collection of true magpie stories we could assemble and read to our (grand)children! Between the Downziser people there should be enough stuff for some fantasic and true fairytales
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| Jamanda |
Especially when we can have different views of the same incident. I'm looking forwards to the negligent son's account
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| lottie |
There are certainly enough crazy cat tales on here for an illustrated book
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| mihto |
Son number 2. Have asked him on e-mail. Nicely. Watch this space 
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| Ginkotree |
I now feel lucky that I only have magpies in the hen house! although the chicks keep coming in the house to find me to feed them, lots of poo. The cats and dogs just watch as the chicks climb in thier beds....
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| cab |
I always feel really rather cheerful when I see a magpie. They used to be so badly persecuted where I grew up, I don't remember seeing one till I was at least 12. They're quite charismatic things, its such a same they're also sometimes a dreadful pest. | ||||
| Andrea |
Does anyone else remember the rhyme that starts 'One for sadness, Two for joy, Three for a girl, and Four for a boy ....'
I was taught to count the magpies, and to this day if I see a lone magpie I blink just to make sure I see it twice! |
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| Simon |
And they make that horrible football rattle noise instead of birdsong. No excuses. |
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| Erikht |
Didn't you use to throw him on his head when he was small? I mean, like repeatedly? |
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| Ginkotree |
five for silver ,six for gold seven for a secret never to be told... | ||||
| lottie |
eights a wish and nines a kiss, ten is a bird you must not miss |
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| Andrea |
I never knew that last line Lottie! |
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| lottie |
My only talent is that I recite all nursery rhymes, Doctor Seuss ,where the wild things are type of books etc from memory 'cos I read or recited them so often 
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| sean |
Can we test you?
One fish, two fish...
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| vegplot |
Doctor Seuss books used to scare me when I was a infant/primary school. I still find them - odd. | ||||
| lottie |
Green eggs and ham is my favourite.
p.s. life is 2 short for red fish blue fish and who has what etc--I do have a life
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| tahir |
Cat in the Hat is possibly the best book in the world, ever. | ||||
| lottie |
I put my eldest sons vegan tree hugging alternative lifestyle down to The Lorax being his favourite book---didn't realise it was scarring him for life ----must go and give poultry some grub.
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