Magpie deterrent

[Marijn]

Does anyone know of a tried and trusted magpie deterrent please.

[DTCwordfan]

12 bore

[RATTER15]

A hawk

[DTCwordfan]

fine selection here - 20 bore works better.

http://www.purdey.com/guns/new-guns-for-sale/

[Marijn]

I haven't got a licence. Any more achievable ideas? :-)

[Barmaid]

Try here

http://www.rspb.org.u.../magpies/magpies.aspx

[archeraddict]

I think I have read somewhere that old CDs tied on branches deter them, as they don't like the light shining off them. Also, if your neighbours don't mind, a recording of a crow in distress would help - No suggestions as to how you make the crow distressed and record it though!

[DTCwordfan]

one of these?

http://scarecrowsprinkler.org/

[DTCwordfan]

great fun for nailing "family" intruders as well.....

[Buenchico]

As someone who thinks that magpies are the most beautiful, intelligent and wonderful birds in the whole world, I shouldn't be answering this question!

However, here's what the RSPB has to say on the subject:
http://www.rspb.org.u.../magpies/magpies.aspx

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oh, I see that Barmaid has beaten me to it!

[horseshoes]

It sure as hell aint a cat!!!

http://i55.tinypic.com/2ew3ajb.jpg

[archeraddict]

You need to put a bell on that magpie to warn the cat!

[starone]

Quite a pretty bird. If only they didn't have such a horrible raucous call. They are not called chattering magpies for nothing.

[Marijn]

Thank you very much for your answers. I've just sent an email enquiring into the scary balloon. Chris you wouldn't like magpies if they'd half killed two of your guinea pigs, come into your bedroon and shat all over your curtains and stolen your crystal tortoise.

[welshlibranr]

See them in my garden often, they are renegades!........but I quite like them!..........they have loads of attitude!...........lol........

[sherrardk]

Magpies are a nightmare - have to salute single ones all day long (not just in the morning - like to err on the side of caution)- was a right nuisance when I was teaching, looked completely barmy half the time.

[Buenchico]

Salute them, Sherrardk? That,of course, is just plain silly.

However, greeting every single magpie with the relevant enquiry ("Hello Mr Magpie, how's your wife?") is absolutely essential!
;-)

(And, yes, I really do it!)

[Marijn]

Got an email back to say the balloon costs £15. Does anyone know if it works, cos that's an expensive balloon.

[cupid04]

catapult?

[Marijn]

Thank you everyone for your helpful answers. Although a catapult is tempting I need something to scare them for me, as amongst many other annoyances, they perch on my bedroom window sill at 5am every morning and screech "Get up" at me. It would be sooo nice to be allowed to lie-in.
PS: I've heard you're supposed to say "Good morning Captain" when you salute them. I wonder why.