Fly Away Home

His colouring's very distinctive though, especially the white bits

Their colours are marked out so precisely. I wonder why their colours are like they are. When they fly into nearby woods the black blends into the branches and the white into skyline . Magpies are so intelligent but as sly as a fox, that's why they are such a pest doing a lot of damage in the nesting season devouring young birds and eggs . I found them to be a main culprit pulling out young plant plugs looking for grubs. I have to keep an eye on them as they will take the days bird feed in one hit. I decided to put out a large lump of fat or sausage for them so they will do "a-take-away" and eat at home and give the smaller birds a chance. I bet there's few members of GOU that dislike them.

Thanks for your likes and comments

We've noticed in our garden, when magpies are around, there are none of the 'little' birds like sparrows etc. We've also noticed that magpies drop dry bread into the bird bath, fly away, then come back about ten minutes later to eat the bread. They must not like it dry!

Yes Sheilar, Little birds on the menu I've seen a magpie catch a blue tit on the wing and take the bird away. Another bad one was the carrion crows, they use to wait on the gable end of house and pull out starling chicks from their nest from under tiles . A black bird will also dip it's food into water. This is to take back water to their chicks in the nest. I've think some other birds soak their breast feathers to take back water to the nest.

It's a pity such a beautiful bird can be such a pest. Luckily, I don't get any but I do get lots of crows. They've got so used to me shooing them away from the bird table now that I just have to make a movement inside the patio doors now and they're off. The other feeders are intentionally placed well out of their reach among branches, so the smaller birds can feed in peace.

Hi Ojibway93, have you thought of giving the crows their own bit of food on the lawn so they get a quick fill and leave your table alone. I have to do this in my garden for the squirrels as they do so much damage to the nut holders trying to get the feed. If I know they are about ( you can hear a squirrels warning like a some one gently clearing their throat, or see them flicking their tails) put out apple and pear cores or half slices of crusts of bread balanced on the garden fence, near to where the squirrels climb down and jump onto to gain entry into my garden. They grab the large morsel and take back to their drey.

Thanks, T. I did try the 'take-away' idea once before and it worked until the crows started inviting their friends along, so that I got even more of them. So now I just keep shooing them away. There is always plenty of carrion for them on these country roads, unfortunately.

Hello Ojibway93,

I think it's because of all the carrion on our road is the main reason the Red Kites are doing so well.
Pity you do not favour crow pie. Game keepers use to hang a dead crow or rook up and this use to scare the crows off but the other birds like the pheasants and partridge use to still stay.