There's one thing magpies are really scared of – flashing lights. You can keep magpies at bay by placing any reflective object in your yard.
Deterrents for magpies
Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees to scare the predators away. Magpies don't like the way light reflects from the surface. GuardnEyes scarecrow balloon, available from Dazer UK. It may be possible to deter them by playing a tape of a crow or rook distress call.
Some believe flashing lights scare them off, while others swear a zany wig, sticking eyes to the back of your head or opening an umbrella is the way to go. You could even attach a flag to your bike that is higher than your head.
Natural predators of magpies include various species of monitor lizard and the barking owl. Birds are often killed on roads or electrocuted by powerlines, or poisoned after killing and eating house sparrows or mice, rats or rabbits targeted with baiting.
Use signs to warn others of the location of nests and defence zones, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly. Waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping.
If a magpie tries to swoop you, bend your elbow and bring your forearm close to your head to protect your face. Once your eyes are covered, look down and walk away calmly. Cyclists should also dismount their bikes and proceed on foot through a magpie's attack zone.
Remember, magpies are simply trying to protect their territory. Stay calm, protect your face and walk away quickly. A magpie may become aggressive towards people because it has been harassed in the past.
However, as the well-known rhyme shows, it is generally only seeing a lone magpie that is supposed to bring bad luck. We're not entirely sure why this is but we do know that magpies often mate for life so seeing a single magpie may mean it has lost its mate and therefore the chance of it bringing bad luck is higher.
Hearing the Magpie sing means friends and family were en route for a visit. Such positive associations are why Magpie is the representative for The Chinese New Year.
Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are poisoning and even killing native wildlife like owls, eagles, magpies, and quolls.
Hold a bag above your head, or use an umbrella. Walk in groups rather than alone. Don't run. Don't fight back, this will only make the Magpie more defensive.
Magpies don't seem to notice the eyes, and may attack from the side instead, and don't seem overly bothered by the appearance of cable ties. The only real benefit either strategy offers is some sort of head protection for when a magpie does swoop.
As mentioned, magpie swooping season occurs during a magpie's mating period, which tends to fall between August and October each year. While it can seem like it drags on forever when you're dreading your commute and trying your best to avoid feathered projectiles, a magpie will usually only swoop for around six weeks.
There you have it, falconry is truly the best option available to scare away pest birds and keep them away for long periods of time. Shop bought deterrents simply do not have enough effectiveness such as the response to smaller birds' fear as seen with falconry.
You may trim out the trees until the cover they provide is too thin for the crow or magpie to roost in comfortably. Frightening devices, such as scarecrows, eye-balloons and hawk kites, can be effective for a short time. To make them more effective, they will need to be moved frequently.
Crows and magpies are often involved in aggressive encounters, crows usually being the aggressors. Whether its over territory or a food source or nesting material you can be sure that during the nesting season, these species are not very tolerant of each other at all.
Interesting fact: It's true, magpies remember your face. They have excellent recall for faces and very long memories. So, if you've been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you're likely to get the same treatment again.
Magpies love:
Big, old trees which give them somewhere safe to build their nests and sleep at night.
been very important to Australian Aboriginal people. Aborigi- nal peoples stories often used the Magpie as an example to. teach stories based on the Magpie's motherly love, protection. and provision of food and warnings.
“Good morning/afternoon Mr Magpie.” I appreciate it's only a bird, but I am taking no sodding chances after the past 18 months. I salute and say good morning Mr magpie or good afternoon Mr magpie depending on the time. Unless there's more than one.
When magpies have formed an attachment they will often show their trust, for example, by formally introducing their offspring. They may allow their chicks to play near people, not fly away when a resident human is approaching, and actually approach or roost near a human.
'Young birds and subordinates will bow down and shake their tail feathers when a dominant male or female is near,' Connelly explains.
founder Jon Clark also recommends keeping calm in the face of magpie mobbing: “Try and keep eye contact with the birds, that works more often than not—especially if you're walking or running,” he says, “If one swoops and you turn and look at it, keep your eye on it and edge out of its territory.
Magpies swoop in spring
During this time, they will defend their nests and chicks, but also defend their surrounding territory. Male adults are using their body language – beak clapping, whooshing above your head and screeching – to warn you to keep away from their eggs or newly-hatched chicks.
September is peak magpie swooping season. However, the birds typically nest from July to December and have been known to swoop then too. Magpies tend to swoop for about six weeks as their mate incubates eggs and while the chicks are very young.