Quck answer
Magpies are known for their bold and sometimes aggressive behavior. To scare them away, try these methods:
1. Hang shiny objects like CDs or aluminum foil strips in your garden or near their nesting areas. The reflections will deter them.
2. Use scare devices like scarecrows or owl decoys. Change their positions regularly to make them more effective.
3. Install bird netting or spikes on areas where magpies often perch or nest. This will make it difficult for them to land and discourage them.
4. Play recordings of predator calls or distress signals. This will make magpies think there is danger nearby and they will stay away.
5. Avoid feeding magpies as this can encourage them to return. Keep your garbage bins secure to prevent them from scavenging.
By using these methods, you can effectively scare away magpies and prevent them from causing any harm or disturbance.
What should you do if magpies are causing trouble in your garden? Magpies are highly intelligent and active birds that may be helping themselves to anything they want to eat in your yard. The most effective way to get rid of magpies from your yard is to take a comprehensive and humane approach that involves cutting off their access to food and water as much as possible and scaring them away using various objects and noises.
What Attracts Magpies to Your Home
Magpies are attracted to your yard or garden because of the available food. They consume fruits, vegetables, grains, and also rummage through your trash. They feed on flies, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, worms, and even small animals such as rabbits, mice, rats, squirrels, and voles. They are known to prey on other birds and raid their nests to eat their eggs.
In addition, magpies visit birdbaths for water and take food from bird feeders. If you want to continue providing bird feeders in your yard, make sure to use ones that are specifically designed for small birds. This includes feeders with small holes or feeding bars that close off access to birdseed when a larger bird tries to feed. Avoid leaving any pet food or water outside as magpies will readily consume it. They may also seek shelter in your yard.
A large population of magpies can quickly devastate your entire garden. They can be aggressive and may even attack if provoked. Magpies are also known for their loud squawking, which can be annoying. However, it’s important to note that they also eat garden pests.
Protect Your Plants
Prevent magpies from accessing their food supply by using protective netting made of nylon or plastic to cover plants that are being disturbed, including fruits, vegetables, and grains. Ensure that bird feeders are empty, birdbaths are devoid of water, and pet food is not left outside, as magpies will try to get to them. Once they realize there is no food or water available in your yard, they will eventually move on and leave you in peace.
Hang Reflective Objects
Magpies are frightened by sunlight reflecting off shiny, metallic surfaces. You can use various objects to create this effect. Hang CDs, metallic Mylar balloons, aluminum pie pans, and/or partially filled plastic bottles 3 feet above the ground near the plants that magpies are disturbing. The movement of these objects in the wind causes sunlight to reflect off their shiny surfaces in an unpredictable manner.
You can also purchase bird-scaring balloons, often called predator eye balloons or scary eye balloons, which produce the same effect. These balloons come in yellow, white, and black and have small, circular, reflective metal centers that resemble eyes to magpies. These eyes resemble those of predators.
Bird-scaring balloons flutter in the wind and have a streamer that looks like a tail. To be effective, hanging objects should be moved weekly so that magpies do not become familiar with them or figure out their purpose.
Bird-scare tape is a reflective item that works similarly to scare away magpies. It is made of metal and has a diamond-shaped pattern that reflects sunlight. Hang it loosely, twist it, and place it 18 inches above the plants or directly on them. This will create a shiny and unfamiliar object that magpies will avoid.
A scarecrow is another effective method to frighten off magpies. Make sure to secure the scarecrow so that its arms and legs can move in the wind, giving the illusion of a living person. It is important to create eyes on both the front and back of the scarecrow’s head so that it works from both directions.
To prevent magpies from getting used to the scarecrow, it is necessary to move it periodically. Depending on the size of your yard, you may need multiple scarecrows, as one scarecrow can cover 2 to 10 acres, according to Wildlife Damage Management.
You can also try installing a hawk kite, which is shaped like a real hawk and has a photographic image of a hawk printed on it. It looks lifelike and is attached to a pole to allow it to move and fly in the wind. Magpies will mistake it for a real hawk and stay away.
Another method is to create noise by playing CDs or recordings of crows and rooks in distress. Vary the time of day and the duration of playing the sounds to keep the magpies on alert. These sounds may cause concern for magpies and make them believe that a predator is nearby.
