Magpies - vermin?

[sidkid]

In the latest Sunday Times there's an article about a lady bee-keeper who shoots magpies. She says they are vermin. Is this woman allowed to kill these beautiful creatures?

[Gormless]

Magpies are vile. They make the most foul noises and drive away the other species from your garden. They eat other birds' eggs and fledglings. I keep a loaded .22 air rifle upstairs, but somehow I have never had the cold-bloodnedness to shoot one. But they are vile cackling vermin.

Yes though, anybody is at liberty to shoot them. Like pigeons, squirrels, rats.

[sn�gged]

Don't forget cats.

[EricaAlways]

I'm not sure if you can shoot them, but im pretty sure you cant shoot cats.

I would never shoot a magpie for eating fledglings or eggs, as that is nature, but if they are causing damage to your property and est control cannot get rid, shoot away!

[sn�gged]

If you have a sharp eye and a quick trigger finger you can.

[Gormless]

Erica, if I was assured of a clean kill with a .22 air rifle (firing downwards of course - I am in a built-up area) then I would shoot them. One of my dreams is to live in the open countryside where I could blast them to pieces with a shotgun, and I would, I mean that.

[debbz1969]

My dad hates them. He shoots em if he's quick enough, ever since he saw one take baby blackbirds from their nest.

[sn�gged]

True... Magpies are beautiful to look at...

but so was Mata Hari... and look at the sh!t she caused.

[debbz1969]

It's not illegal to kill them as long as you don't miss and hit the postman, (unless he's bring your leccy bill!!). Oh, and your gun is legally owned of course.

[sn�gged]

^ pmsl

[x31tna]

magpie is just another creature put on this earth and they do what they do in the course of nature

its mankind who interferes with nature thats causing all the in-balance and destruction that we see

nature if left to its own would keep an even balance

i would never hurt an innocent animal....so i agree with u sidkid i dont think people should be allowed to shoot them it makes me feel sick

magpies are beautiful in their own right as anything else natural in this world!!

[sidkid]

Yes - I agree. History is littered with examples of mankind's idiotic interference with the balance of nature.

[Gormless]

I had robins feeding on my doorstep, coming into the house, looking at me as only robins can, little companions. Magpies ruined that. At the extremely small risk of disturbing global natural stability, yes I would shoot these foul croaking vermin.

We kill cows, sheep, fish, to improve our life. I expect you would support the killing of rats. Magpies are the same. At least rats don't croak on and on and on.

[mattie]

They don't have to eat other birds eggs where I live.

They clean up the roadkill, mainly rabbits.

[bensmum]

Many bird species have been driven out of gardens by peoples insistence on putting in ugly decking and hard standing in their gardens. A lot of habitat has also been ruined by the amount of building which is going on to satisfy our demand for bigger and better houses.
I have sparrowhawks in my garden and they take small birds too but it's nature at work - they and the magpies have to eat after all

[Schutzengel]

Sadly Magpies are not a protected species. Having said that, we have two magpies as daily visitors to our garden, who live quite peaceably with chaffinches, doves, woodpigeons, blue and great tits, sparrows, squirrels, and our 2 pet geese and cats, They walk around under the trees and bother no other birds or animals. Neither do they make a noise. Perhaps it's because there is ample food available.

[EricaAlways]

I honestly still would not kill a magpie. Just because they make an annoying sound?!

I can imagine you chasing beeping car drivers down the road and shooting at them too, haha.

I would imagine the Times articles was of particular interest because it was controversial. To 'keep' bees is interfering with nature, probably more than shooting a magpie. I dont agree with it.

[terambulan]

Next they will be killing grey squirrels in the name of vermin!

I too hate too many magpies too but prod their nests out in spring to control the population.

[LoftyLottie]

You can only shoot them on your own property and if you are licenced. Yes they are classed as vermin.

However, Just wish people would not interfere with the balance of nature. No animals are 'vile' Gormless!.

Magpies are incredibly intelligent and beautiful birds.

Have you ever seen a live magpie used in a Larsen Trap. It was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen. This intelligent bird was totally demented (I let it out :o) ).

Bensmum. You are so right about decking and hard surfaces that people put down these days.

Mattie, we have loads of magpie around us (out in the sticks) and all I ever see them eat is roadkill. I hardly ever hear them anyway.

I have seen Woodpeckers around me that I have witnessed taking young bluetits off my feeders and Sparrowhawks often take from my garden. I have yet to witness a magpie doing the same. However, I don't get upset about birds taking other birds - it is natural and is not the reason for the decline in smaller garden birds. Roadkill, is one of the biggest reasons for their decline, plus modern farming methods.

Perhaps you lot who want to kill magpies should get rid of your cars!!

Nice posting Schutzengel.

[EricaAlways]

Larsen Trap?! Goodness me! I didnt have a clue what they were until now! They sound horrific.

To be honest with you I cannot understand the logic of protecting birds from magpie cruelty only to use one of those traps, it really really sounds so very cruel!

By that rationale, is it ok to shoot a cat that kills robins/sparrows etc....?