"Jake" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:14:06 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Martin" wrote in message
. ..
.invalid wrote in message

Today a magpie took nine ducklings from a nest near where my daughter
lives.
--
Martin

So what's your opinion about magpies?

Tina


If I may butt in here. MY opinion of magpies is that more should be
shot. The usual bird table sequence here is that the birds run an
elevator service from a nearby tree. They start at the top, and hop
down a level at a time until they reach the bottom and earn their
place in the "fly to the table, grab a sunflower heart and fly back to
top of tree" queue. It amazes me how the little creatures work this
system out but it does work for them, I think.

Then a couple of magpies turn up. If another little bird dares to land
on the table, they simply tear it apart and then carry on eating the
sunflower hearts.

If I see magpies they get stones chucked at them. I'm trying to teach
the cat the difference between "birds" and "magpies" but he just
watches the carnage if he's out and around.

Sparrow hawks occasionally fly down and less occasionally catch
something. But it's taken off and eaten, not just killed.

So yes, I hate magpies. I know it's nature but if they ate the little
bird they tore apart I'd understand. But they just kill and then go
back to seed eating.

Cheers, Jake

I find them hard to tolerate, TBH. they used to get into my hen houses and
eat the eggs before I could get to them.
Not possible now.