Just seen a magpie kill a bird in our garden, how do we deter them?

[Magp13]

Been enjoying seeing all sorts of birds congregate in our garden and the variety has really increased this year. Was hoping for tits and lo and behold one appeared only to be pecked to death and carried off by a magpie. By the time we raced out it was gone. So sad a song thrush had been following me around as I tidied up from gardening. Worried all the other birds will be scared off now. How do we deter magpies.

Magpies most certainly have a massive detrimental affect on songbirds. The National Trust don't advertise the fact they control magpies on their land because of all the backlash they'd get, but they do, because it's absolutely necessary.

Magpies are one of the species that have exceptionally few predators but predate ferociously on songbirds, and their eggs.

Populations of songbirds are substantially higher where magpies have some degree of control.

As humans we unintentionally kill wildlife all the time with our very presence. We can at least utilise this power positively by helping to protect songbird decline from a insatiable, hugely populous predator (legally).

Pigeons however don't prey on other birds but can be issue with crops.

Exactly. It’s like someone stopping you at the door of the supermarket op and removing your food from you. Stay out of it.

It's nature OP and what magpies do to feed their own young. They also take chicks from nest boxes which is horrible to witness but they have to eat.

And I expect you’re a vegetarian OP? You may well be, of course, but if not….you really can’t call a species eating another species ‘evil’!!

Exactly this. We also deter foxes from gardens and other pests. Nothing wrong with looking for kind deterrents and that’s what I’ll be doing. I’d read about the impact on songbirds.

Even vegetarians eat other species.

Yes evil birds. Look how many species they've caused to go extinct. Oh wait, that wasn't magpies - that was humans.

@SerendipityJaneyou can download the Merlin app for free which listens to birds and tells you what they are. Also can identify any photos you take of birds - it’s not infallible but pretty accurate.

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