Now is an ideal time to set up bird feeders, as gardens will soon be alive with birdsong from birds on the hunt for mates, while young fledglings start venturing out of their nests towards the end of May. It can be particularly disheartening, though, to spend time arranging a bird feeder only to watch the food get rapidly devoured by magpies.
Magpies are highly intelligent birds and considerably larger than many of the most common garden visitors, including robins, finches and sparrows, making it straightforward for them to bully smaller species. If a magpie nest is situated close to your garden, the birds can become fiercely territorial and are also notorious for stealing eggs from other nests, causing many smaller birds to steer clear of the area entirely.
Fortunately, wildlife specialists at Garden Bird have revealed a simple method to discourage magpies while welcoming other garden birds — and all it requires is a rummage through your home for some old CDs. The experts explained: "Magpies are seen as social and intelligent creatures. Interestingly, they do not like to be looked at... In Australia, where the birds are noticeably violent, this has proven to be an effective method of avoiding them." They added: "Embrace this method, and stick a few pairs of eyes on your walls or trunks near a feeder, and they're unlikely to spend long periods around your garden. Hanging reflective CDs from the trees will produce a similar effect, spooking the creatures further."
How can CDs and googly eyes keep magpies away?
Magpies tend to be wary of eye-like patterns as these can indicate to them that an unknown presence is watching and may be a predator poised to attack. CDs operate in a similar fashion by reflecting light, and the unfamiliar flashing movement can lead magpies to believe that something unknown is circling overhead, potentially a predator on the hunt. Magpies will refuse to feed if they sense danger is close by, and during spring are more inclined to seek out a safer food source elsewhere, given the abundance of berries, seeds and insects available.
Will deterring magpies keep other birds away from feeders?
Common British garden birds such as robins, sparrows and finches tend to become strongly attached to a feeding spot, making them less likely to abandon it when something unusual appears nearby. These smaller birds are generally far more inquisitive and accustomed to human presence, meaning they'll quickly investigate and discover that the CDs pose no threat to them. Smaller birds also tend to flit rapidly between locations to evade predators, so they may not even notice the CDs or eye-like patterns at all. Magpies simply approach unfamiliar objects differently, and are more inclined to survey open spaces before landing, making them more likely to take flight elsewhere.
How to deter magpies
Simply hunt out any old CDs or DVDs you have lying around at home. That said, any shiny object capable of reflecting light will do the job, with tin foil or foil pie dishes serving as excellent alternatives. Using string, suspend the CDs at varying heights, ensuring they are positioned in an open spot in your garden where sunlight can reach them. Eye balloons or googly eyes, available in the children's arts and crafts section of most supermarkets, can also be placed around your garden to trigger the natural flight instinct in magpies.
It's worth bearing in mind that magpies tend to target feeders where there's a convenient spot to land, so positioning a feeder away from sheds, fences or trees should help deter them. As magpies are remarkably intelligent birds, it's a good idea to regularly reposition the CDs and eyes every few weeks so they don't learn which areas to avoid. Once magpies believe predators are in the vicinity, they'll be far more inclined to steer clear of your garden, allowing smaller birds to enjoy the feeder without the threat of being bullied.
