Are magpies a nuisance in your garden?
21 April 2009, 08:40 AM
#1
Are magpies a nuisance in your garden?
There are about 4 plus pairs that visit mine and they are not welcome anymore as they have taken some eggs from another nest 
For the last few years the problem has been pigeons but i think they are eating the pigeons eggs now but at the expense of the little birds. Has anyone else got this problem?
I think that Magpies are beautiful and intelligent but they are becoming a pest now.
For the last few years the problem has been pigeons but i think they are eating the pigeons eggs now but at the expense of the little birds. Has anyone else got this problem?
I think that Magpies are beautiful and intelligent but they are becoming a pest now.
21 April 2009, 08:57 AM
#2
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Magpies around here actually drag young birds from the nest and peck them to death. Officially "vermin" and hence can be shot on sight (within the rules).
Quality air rifle will do the job, but they are tough old birds, so good ammo is a must. You want a clean kill, not another injured bird. Prometheus sabot pellets I find work well.
Other option is to use a Larsen trap, catch them, then take them elsewhere to release them. But I think that just moves the problem about.
Or get yourself a hawk/falcon.
Quality air rifle will do the job, but they are tough old birds, so good ammo is a must. You want a clean kill, not another injured bird. Prometheus sabot pellets I find work well.
Other option is to use a Larsen trap, catch them, then take them elsewhere to release them. But I think that just moves the problem about.
Or get yourself a hawk/falcon.
21 April 2009, 08:57 AM
#3
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They rarely actually come down in my garden, since it's divided into areas by rose-arches etc.
However, they DO sit in the trees watching the smaller birds, and are nest robbers. Once they discover a nest, they'll take eggs and fledlings and don't stop until that nest is empty.
I know it's nature's way, and they have to eat too, but I'm afraid that Mr Webley comes out if I see one nearby
They are EXTREMELY feral, if they SEE you, they are gone.
I reckon they need culling, but can't see it happening.
A mate who races pigeons has a trap, it works VERY well, it has two chambers, the first bird goes in after food, once it's in, it will call another, which is, in turn, trapped. The first is then dispatched, and removed, leaving the second to call it's friends etc etc. He can get 6 or 7 in a day.
However, they DO sit in the trees watching the smaller birds, and are nest robbers. Once they discover a nest, they'll take eggs and fledlings and don't stop until that nest is empty.
I know it's nature's way, and they have to eat too, but I'm afraid that Mr Webley comes out if I see one nearby
They are EXTREMELY feral, if they SEE you, they are gone.
I reckon they need culling, but can't see it happening.
A mate who races pigeons has a trap, it works VERY well, it has two chambers, the first bird goes in after food, once it's in, it will call another, which is, in turn, trapped. The first is then dispatched, and removed, leaving the second to call it's friends etc etc. He can get 6 or 7 in a day.
21 April 2009, 09:34 AM
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Cull magpies to protect dawn chorus, say campaigners - Telegraph
"Culling magpies is legal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, providing it is done humanely and for a specific purpose, for example to protect crops or conserve wild birds. "
"Culling magpies is legal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, providing it is done humanely and for a specific purpose, for example to protect crops or conserve wild birds. "
Last edited by unclebuck; 21 April 2009 at 09:37 AM.
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21 April 2009, 10:01 AM
#8
Swings and roundabouts; We have a pigeon problem, and owing to size of the garden the legility of shooting them is iffy (can't gaurantee pellets will not stray into public areas, plus neighbours are a little on the "eco" side ).
Thing is, we used to have magpies, but it seems someon has culled them. the result is the current load of randy fornicating pigeons.
And either way there are still no small birds, as the overpopulation of cats have had them to play with Although, the prikka strips have helped, however £80 of plastic to keep somone elses pet under control does raise issues of why I should have to pay that for what is not my own doing.
Thing is, we used to have magpies, but it seems someon has culled them. the result is the current load of randy fornicating pigeons.
And either way there are still no small birds, as the overpopulation of cats have had them to play with
Although, the prikka strips have helped, however £80 of plastic to keep somone elses pet under control does raise issues of why I should have to pay that for what is not my own doing.
21 April 2009, 10:35 AM
#9
I have called the police so that they can clarify the rules on shooting within your own garden. They are going to ask the firearms lot as they are unsure. I can live with the Magpies, its the pigeons i am interested in. Fingers crossed..... 
I live out in the countryside so i would have thought this would make a difference as opposed to living in a built up area
I live out in the countryside so i would have thought this would make a difference as opposed to living in a built up area
21 April 2009, 10:37 AM
#10
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21 April 2009, 10:44 AM
#11
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I get them on the bedroom window ledge this time of year. Every morning!!!! Its a pain but like you said they are such nice birds I dont want to shoo them off.
Its just a seasonal thing, there are some extreme ways to get rid (tie a dead one to a tree or a larsen trap) but I would just try and go with it.
Its just a seasonal thing, there are some extreme ways to get rid (tie a dead one to a tree or a larsen trap) but I would just try and go with it.
21 April 2009, 10:46 AM
#12
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I have called the police so that they can clarify the rules on shooting within your own garden. They are going to ask the firearms lot as they are unsure. I can live with the Magpies, its the pigeons i am interested in. Fingers crossed.....
I live out in the countryside so i would have thought this would make a difference as opposed to living in a built up area
I live out in the countryside so i would have thought this would make a difference as opposed to living in a built up area
I regularly used my airgun against the rats in my garden and there was no problem. Now that we have got Freddie the very big cat, they all ran away when he sorted one out. No need for the airgun now!
Les
21 April 2009, 10:47 AM
#13
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As long as you inform the police that you are doing pest control its not a problem. Its only an issue when you start shooting without letting them know first.
Call your local 0845 number and get it logged.
Call your local 0845 number and get it logged.
21 April 2009, 10:49 AM
#14
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My old school friend has magpies in his garden. He upset them by pruning one of the trees they perch in and now they stare at him whenever he goes into the garden. He says its a bit eerie and they certainly look as though they hate his guts.
Les
Les
21 April 2009, 10:57 AM
#15
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that's the last thing you need, angry Magpies intent on revenge. As for the suggestion re getting a hawk, that doesn't help the issue. It may kill the Magpies but also every other bird in the garden as well. We have a Sparrow Hawk that likes to pop in for a blood bath every now and then.
21 April 2009, 10:58 AM
#16
He should have told the police that he thought the Gipsy bloke was a magpie as he was carrying shiny stuff
Still waiting for the police to call back for permission. I am only going to get rid of the pigeons as they **** on my garden furniture and eat all my crops.
I can live with the magpies dragging poor defenseless chicks from their nests and eating them. They are interesting to watch as their young from last year are still here and my starlings have gone
21 April 2009, 11:39 AM
#17
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We haven't had the problem so far this year, but have actually seen them bullying and pecking our boxer (dog, not lennox).
They also gang up on the cats- which will usually kill anything, but when faced with four noisy pecky bloody magpies the run and hide.
Hoping we won't have the same problems this year as we now have a Jack Russell to- fingers crossed she's not as soft as the boxer!
They also gang up on the cats- which will usually kill anything, but when faced with four noisy pecky bloody magpies the run and hide.
Hoping we won't have the same problems this year as we now have a Jack Russell to- fingers crossed she's not as soft as the boxer!
21 April 2009, 12:11 PM
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21 April 2009, 12:35 PM
#23
My father in law declared Jihad on the Magpies, borrowed the trap, quite offputting seeing them shot at point blank range, not die, and then repeat, ditto Squirells, those little ***** are nails, gnawing the end of the gun as its poked in the trap to me suggests double hard b4stard rodent status, face it, nobody would go outside if the were cat sized.
21 April 2009, 12:44 PM
#24
Good news, i have spoken to the police and i am allowed to pick of the pigeons, doves crows and magpies etc
Could i really do it though?
Do i have the *****? I dont think i have killed anything before so this will be interesting
I could post my kills on here 
Could i really do it though?
Do i have the *****? I dont think i have killed anything before so this will be interesting
I could post my kills on here
21 April 2009, 12:51 PM
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