Magpies!!!!

[martymod]

I have put some bird feed out in my rear garden with the hanging type with ball feeders. I have also put apple and grapes on the rockery. Although some pigeons have turned up along with some smaller birds (i am a layman and know nothing about birds I just like them) magpies keep arriving and eating everything. Can I put out anything that will get rid off them or invite smaller species?

[KRUSTYMAN]

Your best bet is to stop putting the grapes and apple out for a while and just purchase a couple of cheap hanging seed feeders. The small birds will be able to use these but it will take a very determined magpie to be able to hang on these and get anything thats worth the effort. I f you look closely at the magpies they are very beautiful birds but they are a nuisance and their rattle goes right through me!

[bensmum]

If you put feed out you will attract all sorts of birds including magpies - they have to eat after all. Seed feeders are a good idea but I had some of the ones in squirrel proof cages (until someone nicked them!) Anyway our enterprising squirrel used to climb on the feeder pole and shake the feeders until the seed came out. He then joined the magpies underneath to eat the food. Whatever you do you will have a lot of fun watching the wildlife - enjoy it. (You might want to try niger seed in special feeders - small birds especially goldfinches love it)

[hammerman]

I've thought about this at work....i often feed a pair of crows i have but the pigeons and herring gulls keep taking the food...which i don't like.

It got me thinking....am i right to play god and decide who gets fed and who doesn't ? I feel kinda guilty that gulls and pigeons are around in such numbers because of humans and now we want to chose whether they get fed or not.

Tricky one.

[shylock73]

We have one of those cloths lines that turn in the wind and I hang bird feeders from the wires but we also have squrrils that like to climb the post and pull up the feeders and chew holes in the nets to let loose the nuts all over the lawn, so I have greased the pole and stopped his/her little game. It`s so amusing to watch as it tries to climb and cant anymore.

[terambulan]

Magpies are carnivores and raid nests to consume the chicks. However if you keep up the feeding, hopefully they will be stuffed enuf to leave smaller birds nests alone.

[garner]

I know how you feel martymod, it's a constant battle in our garden with blackbirds doing their best for the fledglings,just put alot of extra food out like we do and hope they get stuffed as terambulan states.They are a lovely looking bird and they have to survive too.g.