Most probably not. So the call to arms by the editors of Sporting Shooter is going to achieve very little. The magazine is offering a £500 prize to the person who kills the most magpies between now and the end of July on the excuse that our beloved songbird populations are being destroyed by the black and white birds.
“The magpie is simply a scapegoat,” says Andre Farrar, a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
The number of songbirds such as sparrows, starlings, and skylarks in Britain has indeed declined by more than half over the past 25 years. In contrast, magpie numbers have risen to nearly 1.3m, partly because of a lack of gamekeeping after the second world war and partly because the birds have become more attuned to suburban living, increasing their numbers in towns and cities. “Because theyre visible birds, its a very perceptible increase,” says Farrar.
There is no doubt magpies are killing other birds – they are predators after all and eating other birds eggs and young comes naturally. But none of this adds up to a smoking gun. “It is unfortunate for the magpies own PR that it does it rather publicly and rather obviously that attracts attention to it.”
Whether the magpies predatory instinct is actually having adverse effects on songbird populations is doubtful. Indeed, the real reasons for the declines of songbirds in Britain are many and varied.
“Take the example of skylarks, a ground-nesting bird that could potentially be vulnerable to magpie predation,” says Farrar. “The reason for decline of skylarks is the switch from spring-sown to winter-sown cereals, so the crop is too high for the birds to nest in. So they dont produce enough young, so their population falls. The solution is measures to introduce spaces within the crop where the birds could find food.”
In fact, since the second world war, the way that 70% of Britains land surface is managed has changed, erasing habitats and meaning that many native birds have found it difficult to cope.
This continued for ten minutes, but I’m not sure if she had any eggs. Since it is not on our land, we are powerless to stop it; I understand that it is the will of mother nature.
I was having a cup of tea when I noticed two magpies swooping down repeatedly on the blackbirds’ nest across from our house. The male and female both chased them away more than once. I saw one of the magpies go onto the nest.
“As an illustration, consider skylarks, a ground-nesting bird that may be susceptible to magpie predation,” suggests Farrar. “The switch from spring-sown to winter-sown cereals is the cause of the decline in skylark populations because the crop is too high for the birds to nest in.” So they dont produce enough young, so their population falls. The answer is to take steps to create areas in the crop where birds can find food. “.
According to Andre Farrar, a representative of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, “the magpie is just a scapegoat.”
It is actually true that since the Second World War, the management of 70% of Britain’s land surface has changed, erasing habitats and making it difficult for many native birds to survive.
Magpies are predators after all, and it is only natural for them to eat the eggs and young of other birds, so there is no doubt that they are killing other birds. But none of this adds up to a smoking gun. “It’s unfortunate that the magpies’ own PR does it in a way that draws attention to itquite publicly and obviously.” “.
Most probably not. Therefore, there won’t be much progress made by the Sporting Shooter editors’ call to arms. The magazine claims that the black and white birds are decimating our beloved songbird populations, so it is giving away a £500 prize to the person who kills the most magpies between now and the end of July.
FAQ
Do magpies attack and eat other birds?
Are magpies friendly to other birds?
Why do people not like magpies?
Are magpies more aggressive than crows?