I Don't Love All Birds !

[Canary42]

Being a keen bird-lover I've grown a large hedge on my property which now houses several bird's nests every year.

Unfortunately the bloody magpies have discovered it and have now raided on several occasions. I know it's nature in the raw, but it still distresses me. 

Is there any way I can deter the magpies (apart from shooting them) but not the sparrows, robins, finches, blackbirds etc who have made their homes in my garden ?  Would a scarecrow work ?

[Redhelen72]

Magpies are startled by light reflections, and this can be an effective method in helping to keep them out of your garden. There are a couple of ways that you can do this. Firstly, old CDs are great at catching and reflecting light, so if you have any, hang them up around your garden at intervals.

[gingejbee]

^Yes, light music is the answer!

[Khandro]

^^ but tell all the other birds not to worry, it's only a scam 😃

[Canary42]

Thanks Red, I'll try that (the magpies do flee if I appear at the window but the other birds seem to have got used to it. However much as I enjoy watching the little birds going to and fro from my feeders, I can't watch all the time.)

[Redhelen72]

You can get some decent looking alternatives to CDs

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendationref=asc_df_B00UNAVW1I/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=224088607899&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12212905501069341968&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006912&hvtargid=pla-349970535485&psc=1&mcid=afd341d6b0d5329c8ccae23fa8c36c23

[ToraToraTora]

Yes Helen is correct, if you imbed the hedge with old CDs at different angles then the reflections will deter most of the crow family.

[Canary42]

Thank you both. I think I can get together enough obsolete CDs to give it a go, if not I'll try try the amazon item (or one of the linked items on their site - the reflective tape for example)

[Old_Geezer]

But will it deter the local cats ?

[barry1010]

We have magpies and blerdy jays.  I've witnessed grey squirrels take eggs occasionally, I've tried every deterrent but nothing seems to work for more than a couple of days

[Canary42]

Cats are less likely to raid nests well inside a hedge surely.  But, yes they are a pain too.

[Canary42]

https://ibb.co/jHd6gNX ;

Here is a picture of my "scarecrow" based on your help. The hedge is on the left, the feeder stations on the garage wall in the background. 

The photo is taken from the direction from which the magpies fly in. The nesting birds are already ignoring this new intruder. Hopefully the magpies will have a different reaction.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Canary42]

Damn links - try again. 

https://ibb.co/jHd6gNX     

     

 

[ToraToraTora]

I'd hang a load of CDs in the hedge too.

[jourdain2]

Dangling CDs keep deer away as well.  I loathe Magpies, they used to distract the mother hens and then another one would sidle in from another direction and kill the chicks.  I've also seeh them mobbing a blackbird's nest until the exhausted birds could no longer protect their chicks. The 'no shooting' rule should be relaxed for them.