This is a serious question, so serious answers please. I have white fantail doves and currently one or two magpies are continually after them. What can i do? Will the doves be ok?
2006-11-04 21:25:19 · 12 answers · asked by Caroline 5 in Pets ➔ Birds
magpies won't normally kill doves or pigeons. They may rob their nest of eggs and young though. If the doves are near a magpie nest then they will try to drive them off. You could try hanging old CD's in the bushes and shrubs around your garden to scare the magpies away.
I have a pair of magpies which nest somewhere in the trees and large hedge on my land and they have never chased my pigeons nor my little bantams.
I love magpies and have had a tame pet one once. It talked as well as a parrot and was very affectionate. I like all members of the corvid family though because of the fact that they mate for life and are extremely intelligent. In some backward places, superstitious people say they either bring good luck, or bad luck. Since I believe one makes their own luck in life I find this odd. In my part of the country they are supposed to bring good luck if you greet them politely. Load of nonsense, they are merely birds and have no influence on your life.
2006-11-04 21:45:48 · answer #1 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Last spring, i was at work, and heard the magpies sounding their "war cry" - they attacked a Dove. I ran outside and scared them off. the dove was bleeding badly, but happy to say - after experience with wildlife - fixed it up and gave the dove a second chance, but magpies will even pick on puppies in gardens, and rabbits and other small animals. They are feeding their young, but if their attacking in this cold weather, put some food out and they may stop targetting your birds.
2006-11-05 05:47:07 · answer #2 · answered by kjbr00mie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Magpies are Predators. They are also protected by law...
Magpies are fully protected by the European Union Birds Directive. The UK Government has derogated (made an exception) from the Directive in relation to control of magpies. Under annual general licence issued under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (for which it is not necessary to apply individually), magpies may be killed or taken by authorised persons, using permitted methods, for the purposes of:
* preventing serious damage to agricultural crops or livestock
* preserving public health/air safety
* conserving wild birds.
An authorised person is a landowner or occupier, or someone acting with the landowners or occupiers permission.
2006-11-05 05:36:11 · answer #3 · answered by Barry G 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Maggies can be quite brutal & will attack your doves...never had any of the ones I have kept killed by them nor those a friend keeps but anything is possible as they are big enough to do some damage...they are more likely to take the young from your dove if they can get hold of them & any eggs they might get to as this is more common for them to do...even hen eggs they will manage to break & eat...Regards Jake
2006-11-05 05:33:44 · answer #4 · answered by Jake 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without doubt the magpies are more than capable of killing your doves as they ( the magpies ) are Corvoids...members of the Carrion crow family and as such east meat. It is more likely they will take fledglings as opposed to adult birds, but in a cold / bitter winter hunger would dominate their choice. Also their diving and squawking could attract crows to the vicinity and they would have no hesitation in killing your doves for food.
In my line of work I have for many many years seen crows swoop on unsuspecting pigeons as they feed ,they attack them from behind flying in and impacting on the back of the head, they then turn the prey on its back eat the breast meat and fly off leaving a bloody carcass behind. So please be VERY VERY wary.
2006-11-05 07:53:33 · answer #5 · answered by shoodoo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they will, so no your doves aren't OK, the magpies will rip them to pieces.... there will be feathers and stuff all over your garden, and blood and bits will then attract cats to eat anything that's left...... only the beaks and some feathers will remain..
HOPE this helps..
2006-11-05 10:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by Bmp1ksh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
I have read somewhere that doves can be dangerous so best keep them indoors to save the magpies lives.
2006-11-05 05:28:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Are the doves not kept in an aviary? That should keep 'um protected.
2006-11-05 05:28:16 · answer #8 · answered by Trina 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes they will kill doves.
have your minder shoot the magpies
yes they will be OK after shooting the magpies
2006-11-05 05:36:58 · answer #9 · answered by TrOpPo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
more than likely magpies can be very nasty not only that they bring bad look i hate them
2006-11-05 05:30:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋