Magpie ..public image

[Exeldama]

Who like magpies...and why do they get such a bad press.....

Im their freind so no rude insults please.

[tracy]

I think they look beautiful, and I like them!

[RichardKing]

In previous years the Skylarks sang overhead and nested in the hayfield next to my house.

This year there are no Skylarks and gangs of Magpies spend their time scouring the field for anything they can find.

I hate them.

[James M]

They've wiped out the blackbird population in our back gardens. I've actually seen them tearing into the nesting boxes I put up. I'd rather they weren't here. There 6 that are always here.

[greyman]

Well as one term for a group of Magpies is a murder that might be pretty close to the mark - we had several sets of birds nesting in holes in the boles of Oaks in our work clearing and I cought a Magpie trying to get at one nest of chicks right in front of me bold as brass. Pretty though they are I really would preffer less of them - thay also terrorise the birds in our back gardens here and you also get to enjoy the sreeching of stolen cicks and upset parents too. Aint nature luverly! Nature - Red in tooth and claw.

Greyman

[Ian in Northampton]

I don't think there's much wrong with magpies per se - the trouble is that they are doing so well and are around in such large numbers that they are often a nuisance - I can often see 15 on one of our reserves. 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy, 15 for hardly any bloody song birds!

[jillybean]

Yep, its a numbers thing. the Magpies living on our local golf course wreak Havoc, eating the local dogs food and taking the songbirds as they fledge. One reason apparently they are doing so well is there's plenty of road kill to eat. I had 40 pigeons on my roof, it was carnage, but now they have gone, the other birds re colonise and I now have a good mix of smaller birds. I wish no creature harm, but too many of one species causes problems.

[greyman]

I am sorry folks _ typing with yer thumbs leads to dyslexia I think! 'Sreeching of stolen cicks' indeed! I feel a return to spelling in an 'Olde inglish' fashion!

Greyman

[Exeldama]

Nooo..songbird decline..look to cats and intensive farmong these are the two biggest killers... magpies are a mere asthetic unpleasantry but a natural, normal one. Numbers are high because we have killed their predators and fed them with our rubbish.

1.5 million feral cats.. 2 birds or small mammals a day= 1.095 billion feathers or furries.

Intensive farming , reduction in habitat and , limiting natural food supplies by monoculture and herbicides/insecticides. (poisons)

[Exeldama]

Then there your own cats........