It has been interesting reading the posts supporting magpies but how many of the authors say they are happy to have the rakk rakk rakking continuously or their bouncing up and down on the house roof each morning.
Seriously I'm going mad with their antics. Can anyone suggest a way to discourage them? We have lost all the smaller birds including bull finches, robins & blue tits. HELP?!?
Hi Sue,
Some useful info to be aware of here regarding magpies and their perception relating to effects on songbirds : http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/magpies/songbirds.asp
Magpies are very difficult to deter. They are a dominant and prominent species, but they do far less damage to the rest of the wildlife in gardens than most people believe.
With legal advice its imperitive the wording is correct so here goes...
All wild birds are protected under law. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take a wild bird - or to intentionally take or destroy their eggs or destroy their nest (when active).
There are exceptions to this protection - and the government recognises, through the issue of a number of general licenses available on the internet, that some species may need to be controlled under certain circumstances.
Magpies are a species that can be controlled under general licenses for the following reasons:
- Preservation of public health and safety
- Preservation of air safety
- Prevention of serious damage to livestock, crops, foodstuffs for livestock or the spread of disease
- Conservation of wild birds
If control is necessary for any of the above reasons, it should only be exercised by an authorised person - and only when that person is satisfied that other, non-lethal methods of solving the problem are either ineffective or impractical.
Issues encountered with magpies such as noise, nuisance or a dislike of the species are not legitimate reasons for lethal control and, if entered into, could potentially amount to criminal offences being committed.
To view the general licenses themselves and for more information regarding legitimate methods of control please follow this link:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/generallicences.aspx
More information on magpies can also be accessed at the RSPB website: