This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up
in a couple of hours, the peanuts don't take much longer. It really is
getting to the stage that unless I am willing to support the magpie
populations, I may as well stop feeding the birds, and I thought the
squirrels were a nuisance!
--
Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire

On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:27:10 +0100, Moonraker wrote:

This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up
in a couple of hours, the peanuts don't take much longer.

I'd have thought one of the "squirrel proof" barrier feeders would
have kept the magpies away from the food. Not sure what their reach
is though.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Apr 26, 8:27*am, Moonraker wrote:
This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up
in a couple of hours, the peanuts don't take much longer. It really is
getting to the stage that unless I am willing to support the magpie
populations, I may as well stop feeding the birds, and I thought the
squirrels were a nuisance!
--
Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire


I have a plague of ducks (mallards). They come to nick the koi food.
Makea hell of a mess.

Moonraker wrote in :

This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up
in a couple of hours, the peanuts don't take much longer. It really is
getting to the stage that unless I am willing to support the magpie
populations, I may as well stop feeding the birds, and I thought the
squirrels were a nuisance!

I know you say hanging feeders, but are there any branches or clotheslines
or similar for them to perch on? If there are then I would cut them off or
hang the feeder elsewhere. Magpies can't hover but can they put claws into
the netting? Just a thought.


You could also put a chicken wire cage over the haning feeder, a bit like a
bell. The small birds would get through but not a magpie.

Hope this helps.
Baz

On 26/04/2012 10:31, Martin wrote:
On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:27:10 +0100,
wrote:

This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up
in a couple of hours, the peanuts don't take much longer. It really is
getting to the stage that unless I am willing to support the magpie
populations, I may as well stop feeding the birds, and I thought the
squirrels were a nuisance!

Jackdaws are a far worse problem in our garden.

We have fat balls stacked in a cylindrical tube with one ball exposed
at a time through a wire mesh hemisphere. A parakeet has managed to
hang on upside down with one claw whilst trying to eat the fat ball,
but so far the feeder has defeated the jackdaws and the magpie.
Fat balls hung inside inverted small flower pots also seem to be large
bird proof.
There is another solution here.
http://www.haiths.com/Products/Caged...der-WBOF01007/
Thanks for the replies, especially Martin's. Looked at Haiths, fine
products, perhaps by next Winter I will have save enough to buy all the
relevant ones.

--
Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire

On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:49:30 +0100, Moonraker
wrote:


This year, for the first time, here anyway, the magpies have learnt to
feed from the hanging feeders. As a result the fat balls get gobbled up

Jackdaws are a far worse problem in our garden.

We have fat balls stacked in a cylindrical tube with one ball exposed
at a time through a wire mesh hemisphere. A parakeet has managed to
hang on upside down with one claw whilst trying to eat the fat ball,
but so far the feeder has defeated the jackdaws and the magpie.
Fat balls hung inside inverted small flower pots also seem to be large
bird proof.
There is another solution here.
http://www.haiths.com/Products/Caged...der-WBOF01007/
Thanks for the replies, especially Martin's. Looked at Haiths, fine
products, perhaps by next Winter I will have save enough to buy all the
relevant ones.


I put the fat balls in the squrrel proof nut feeder. (Out of the bags)
- the sparrows and blue tits can get at them fine.

The last week we have had lots of magpies in and they've eaten all the
ones I've got on the trees. Don't know why its just the last week -
they've not bothered for ages. Perhaps there's nothing else to eat out
there.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

"mogga" wrote in message
...
- the sparrows and blue tits can get at them fine.

The last week we have had lots of magpies in and they've eaten all the
ones I've got on the trees. Don't know why its just the last week -
they've not bothered for ages. Perhaps there's nothing else to eat out
there.

I find magpies a real nuisance. They rob most of the birds nests in my
garden that aren't in wooden boxes.


--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:47:02 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"mogga" wrote in message
. ..
- the sparrows and blue tits can get at them fine.

The last week we have had lots of magpies in and they've eaten all the
ones I've got on the trees. Don't know why its just the last week -
they've not bothered for ages. Perhaps there's nothing else to eat out
there.

I find magpies a real nuisance. They rob most of the birds nests in my
garden that aren't in wooden boxes.

Magpies have their nests robbed by seagulls.
--

I live just about as far from the coast as you can get, so that doesn't
happen here.

Tina

"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