While a fence protects the garden from uninvited guests, the sky above is wide open. So not only the birds that we would like to have in our vicinity flutter to us. The thieving magpie can also become a permanent visitor. However, their “mean” activities are not well received by anyone. How can we get this bird to leave our sanctuary voluntarily? With these gentle methods you can drive the magpie out of your home garden.
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Plague or Beneficiary?
The magpie is popularly known as the thieving magpie, which says a lot about this bird’s reputation. So the black and white bird is automatically assigned to the pests. If more than one bird can then be seen in your own garden, there is quickly talk of a plague. But is the magpie really useless? And is a handful of their kind so devastating that a plague has to be declared?
It’s true, the magpie actually preys on smaller songbirds and their eggs. But isn’t that the normal course of nature, which can be observed everywhere in the animal kingdom? Usually the only thing that bothers us is that the spectacle is taking place in front of our eyes and it hits the “dear” songbirds. The fact that magpies feed mainly on insects and spiders as well as carrion and waste is completely ignored. This feeding behavior contributes to the ecological balance in the garden. Don’t worry, our plants leave the magpies alone.
The hard way is not allowed
Those who, despite the usefulness of the magpies, cannot make friends with them, look for ways to drive them out of their own garden once and for all. What could be more reliable than quickly and painlessly incapacitating them with a shotgun, to say the least. But whether you want to keep your finger on the trigger yourself or intend to hire a seasoned hunter to do it, you should know that you shouldn’t encounter these birds at all. Yes, the legislature also protects animal creatures that we are not at all comfortable with. The protection also applies if they spread on our property and we want to expel them from there.
- Magpies are protected by law
- are subject to nature conservation and not hunting law
- must not be easily hunted or killed
- their nests must not be destroyed
Now you don’t have to sell your property to escape from the unloved birds. The fact that magpies, like other creatures, settle down where the environment is right for them already contains the solution. If you make the stay on your property as uncomfortable as possible for magpies, then there is a good chance that they will fly over to the neighbors voluntarily. Some gentle methods of eviction are available to us.
Cover compost heap
An uncovered compost heap is a richly laid table that a magpie simply cannot overlook, even from lofty heights. She’s already preparing for a nosedive. If she likes it in your garden, she will stay close to the compost heap. It’s not far to her next meal. Since a compost heap is constantly being filled, there is no reason for the magpie to move.
- do not give up sensible composting
- however, cover the pile
- also useful as a preventive measure
- so that magpies don’t settle in the first place
Gentle methods always include the compost so that the magpie really flies away permanently. Otherwise you will have a hard time chasing them out of your garden kingdom.
Only set up intact garbage cans
Garbage cans eke out their existence outdoors, where they usually have a long service life. Nobody goes to the trouble of always having a perfectly preserved dustbin ready. After all, she’s only there for the garbage and we only get a glimpse of her anyway. But the scent they emanate is tempting for some creatures, including the magpie, which likes to feed on carrion. If a hole in the garbage can is added to the attractive scent, the magpie is happy and can hardly be driven away. Here, too, she will soon find that this food source is supplied regularly.
- Always cover garbage cans with a lid
- Check for damage and rectify it immediately
- If necessary, set up rubbish bins so that they are inaccessible
- for example in a room
Let predators into the garden
Another gentle method relies on natural predators of the magpie. It remains to be seen whether this method can really be described as gentle. At most, then, if the magpie is smart enough to recognize the danger in good time and immediately flee. We want to assume that now, after all the magpie has an advantage with its wings and can swing itself to an unreachable height in no time at all. The following animals prey on the magpie and thus have the potential to drive them out of our garden:
- cats
- dogs
- birds of prey
While the enemies listed last may be quite effective, they are unlikely to be welcome residents in a private garden. There still remain dogs and cats, which are among man’s favorite pets and are therefore not hard to come by.
- occasionally leave a dog or cat in the garden
- animals that are “borrowed” on a regular basis also have a deterrent effect
- Corresponding animal noises provide a first shock
- well-placed animal hair
Magpies are clever animals. They do realize whether the cat or dog poses a serious threat that requires a move. If the dreaded enemy shows up just once, the magpie will wait at a safe height until the end of the visit. Even gentle methods such as animal hair and noise cannot drive away the magpie in the long run. It is therefore essential to let a dog or cat roam the garden at regular intervals.
take hiding places
In nature, magpies have predators among the other bird species from which they have to hide. Dense treetops are ideal for this, as they do not offer a clear view from above. In it, every magpie can safely get away from birds of prey circling in the sky.
- thin out the treetops
- a magpie without a safe place to hide moves on
Gentle methods also rely on figures of birds of prey, which are placed in the garden as a deterrent. But here, too, the clever magpies don’t let themselves be fooled for long and driven out of a food paradise. You soon realize that these figures are not capable of any threatening movement. In addition, make sure there is a clear sky over the garden so that a real bird of prey occasionally flies down and scares the magpie.
Suitable nesting boxes are not a temptation
As long as the magpies are not driven out of the garden, you do not have to abandon small songbirds to their fate.
- Set up nest boxes with a small entrance
- Songbirds have to fit through
- but not the big magpie
- Eggs are protected from access
- adult songbirds can also find refuge there
Basically, you should only set up nesting boxes like this for songbirds, since you never know when the next magpie will come by. So the songbirds are not too tempting. With such nesting boxes, even these unfriendly bird species could live together to some extent.
Conclusion
Magpies are useful animals, but some of their behavior makes them unwelcome guests in the garden. Legislation protects the black and white birds, which is why only gentle methods can be used to drive them away. Inaccessible food sources and lurking predators make the garden unattractive again and a permanent move of these birds is more than likely.