Robins, finches and other garden birds will not go near feeders if a magpie nest is nearby (Image: Getty)
Now is the perfect time to put out bird feeders, as gardens will soon be filled with birdsong from birds searching for mates, while young fledglings begin leaving their nests in late May. However, it can be frustrating to spend time setting up a bird feeder only for the food to be quickly gobbled up by magpies.
Magpies are clever birds and are much larger than many common garden visitors, such as robins, finches, and sparrows, which means they can easily intimidate the smaller species.If there is a magpie nest near your garden, the birds may become highly territorial and are also known to steal eggs from nests, so many small birds will avoid the area altogether. However, the wildlife experts at Garden Bird have shared that there is an easy way to deter magpies while encouraging other garden birds, as all you need to do is look through your home for some old CDs.
READ MORE: Anyone with a bird bath in garden urged to act before Friday
READ MORE: Gardening expert says ditch bird feeder – attract birds with five plants instead
The experts explained: “Magpies are seen as social and intelligent creatures. Interestingly, they do not like to be looked at…In Australia, where the birds are noticeably violent, this has proven to be an effective method of avoiding them.
They added: “Embrace this method, and stick a few pairs of eyes on your walls or trunks near a feeder, and they’re unlikely to spend long periods around your garden. Hanging reflective CDs from the trees will produce a similar effect, spooking the creatures further.”
How can CDs and googly eyes keep magpies away?
Magpies will be cautious around eye-like patterns because they can signal to them that something unknown is watching them and might be a predator about to strike.
CDs work the same way as they reflect light, and unfamiliar flashing movement can make magpies believe that something unknown is flying about, which could be a predator hunting them.
Magpies will not eat if they suspect danger is nearby, and in spring are more likely to go somewhere else to look for a safer food sources as there are so many berries, seeds and insects about.
CDs reflect light which can mimic the movement of predators like owls and cats (Image: Getty)
Magpies hate feeling like they are being watched and it will make them nervous to enter a garden (Image: Getty)Will deterring magpies keep other birds from feeders?
British garden birds like robins, sparrows, and finches tend to become very attached to a feeding area, so are less likely to leave if something unusual is nearby.
They tend to be a lot more curious and more used to being around humans, which means smaller birds will quickly investigate and realise the CDs will not harm them.
Small birds also tend to dart quickly from one location to another to avoid predators, so they might not even notice the CDs or eye-like pattern
Magpies simply approach unknown objects differently, and are more likely to scan open spaces before landing, which makes them more likely to fly off to somewhere else.
Small garden birds will feel safe in your garden if you hang up magpie deterrents (Image: Getty)How to deter magpies
All you need to do is look for any old CDs or DVDs in your home. However, you can use any shiny object that will reflect light, and a good alternative could be tin foil or foil pie dishes.
Use a string to hang the CDs at different heights, and make sure to place them in an open area in your garden so sunlight can reach them.
You can buy eye balloons or even googly eyes from the children’s arts section in a supermarket to place in your garden as it should trigger the flight instinct in magpies.
It should be noted that magpies usually go for feeders if there is somewhere convenient for them to land, so keep a feeder away from the shed, fence or trees to deter them.
Magpies are quite clever so it can also help to move the CDs and eyes about every few weeks so they do not learn where to avoid them. Once magpies think predators are nearby they will become more likely to avoid your gaden so other small birds will enjoy the feeder without worrying about being bullied.
Comments are closed.