Magpies

Magpies, blinkin’ pests and also intelligent birds :-

Well yours truly is well brassed off.
I have a garden bird feeding station.
It has a square open mesh feeding tray and three hooks from which hang a peanut feeder, a seed feeder and a mealworm feeder.
I had to stop using the feeding tray because as soon as I put anything on it the magpies would swoop down and it was gone in no time.
The little garden birds do like the other feeders but the lazy beggars mainly use the mealworm feeder because the food readily drops down to the circular tray underneath.
This has never happened before but the magpies this year have figured out how land briefly on the mealworm feeder and quickly get to the food before the feeder swings away from them because of their weight.
They have also learned to knock the glass cylinder of the feeder and make the mealworms drop to the floor below.
As anybody had similar problems and is there a solution such as a magpie unfriendly feeder?

Old cds they dont like them, String them up near the feeders. I had magpies tapping on my window so put some in my window. They soon got the message and problem solved

Lolly, many apologies, I didn't see this earlier post of youres.
What an unusual idea, I've never heard of that before, it's well worth a try and looks like it worked for you, thank you very much

Is the shine  they don't like, so I suppose aluminium foil would do as well.




https://www.thefield.co.uk/gardens/how-to-deter-magpies-21404

Many thanks Lolly, some interesting stuff, I’m sure I have some old CD’s I never play, but the aluminium foil sounds even better.
That’s one of my first jobs tomorrow, I’m absolutely so annoyed with the b*ggars, they are really intelligent and crafty creatures.
I was surprised by this solution because I always thought magpies were attracted to things like coins.
Thanks again.

I had one in my garden yesterday, a beautiful creature but as you say, greedy and takes away the food left for the small birds.

Totally agree Admin, they are lovely birds and are successful because of their intelligence and adaptability.
On the other hand they scare off the smaller garden birds, hog the feeding places and steal other birds eggs, so they must have a negative effect on bird population.
We often see up to a dozen magpies in the trees in the woods in front of our house, so they are a real presence.
I do not like to see any wildlife killed but I wonder if legally their numbers could be controlled.

I don't like them at all..they'll be hanging around waiting for new born little ones to hatch and the rest is history.

Totally agree Mo. they are lovely but lethal.
I don't agree with killing any creatures but they bring out the worst in me, if I could legally shoot them I would, but they are protected.

Two magpies have taken up residence in my garden. I can fully understand that some dont like them, but I dont mind them at all.'

Other than avoiding the use of harmful chemicals, I dont encourage or discourage any wildlife in the garden. It does seem that by doing that, there seems to be a natural harmony. One one occasion, I even saw an endangered species in there.

ramiejamie wrote:Lolly, many apologies, I didn't see this earlier post of youres.
What an unusual idea, I've never heard of that before, it's well worth a try and looks like it worked for you, thank you very much

Beware don't use any Byrds cd's

"Beware don't use any Byrds cd's"

LOL !!!!! trust you

In actual fact I've suspended 5 CD's from my feeding station this morning, all old Microsoft office and old computer discs.
They are nicely flashing in the pale cloudy sunshine as I type, we'll see how they deter the b*ggars.

We are plagued by magpies. They are nesting in the trees. The squirrels are forever around the nests after the eggs. I often see a squirrel being chased by magpies along my fence. They are a lovely looking bird but to me they are flying vermin.

Just remember, that if yoo are visited by a lone Magpie, then ill fortune will befall you LINK

ramiejamie wrote:"Beware don't use any Byrds cd's"

LOL !!!!! trust you

In actual fact I've suspended 5 CD's from my feeding station this morning, all old Microsoft office and old computer discs.
They are nicely flashing in the pale cloudy sunshine as I type, we'll see how they deter the b*ggars.

Let us know how you get on RMJ

Tommy Two Stroke wrote:Just remember, that if yoo are visited by a lone Magpie, then ill fortune will befall you LINK

It was single magpie yesterday that visited me, but that doesn't bother me as I have ill fortune all the time....

Just kidding, but I will be careful......

My cat was stalking a Magpie on my fence one day, each hop back the cat made two creeps towards it, and when the cat was within striking distance WHAM the Magpies mate went beak first into my cats bum

Lolly wrote:

ramiejamie wrote:"Beware don't use any Byrds cd's"

LOL !!!!! trust you

In actual fact I've suspended 5 CD's from my feeding station this morning, all old Microsoft office and old computer discs.
They are nicely flashing in the pale cloudy sunshine as I type, we'll see how they deter the b*ggars.

Let us know how you get on RMJ

Well, it’s early days I know, but since I put them up this morning and up to now Tuesday teatime there has not been a single magpie around my feeders, which is unusual.
Long may it continue.

ramiejamie wrote:

Lolly wrote:

ramiejamie wrote:"Beware don't use any Byrds cd's"

LOL !!!!! trust you

In actual fact I've suspended 5 CD's from my feeding station this morning, all old Microsoft office and old computer discs.
They are nicely flashing in the pale cloudy sunshine as I type, we'll see how they deter the b*ggars.

Let us know how you get on RMJ

Well, it’s early days I know, but since I put them up this morning and up to now Tuesday teatime there has not been a single magpie around my feeders, which is unusual.
Long may it continue.

Sounds promising RMJ.Lets hope the smaller visitors to your garden are eating well now

Was it Jack Hargreaves that introduced Magpie back in the day?

Was Magpie a childrens programme back then?

I loved watching Jack on tv in his wooden shed. I have a bunch of DVD's which I am saving for a rainy day...great man...

One for sorrow, two for gold, three for a secret never to be told.

Not Jack Hargreaves. More of a fishing mon.

Broady wrote:Not Jack Hargreaves. More of a fishing mon.

I think Jack Hargreaves was a presenter on 'HOW'

Dont remember Jack Hargreaves at all, but I do remember Susan Stranks being a Magpie presenter. Thats going back a bit though!