Pest control...magpies?

[lynx]

I'm nearing the end of my tether re a couple of magpies. They awaken me every morning from around 04.30 onwards.The noise and commotion they make needs to be seen (heard) to be believed and their aggression is truly unbelievable. I've tried to make life unpleasant for them but nothing is working.

Any suggestions?

[Crocodile]

I believe the law provides for magpies to be shot as pests.

[Miss Chief]

Get a cat or two.

[JulieBell]

Originally Posted by crocodile

I believe the law provides for magpies to be shot as pests.

Sad to say it's true.

http://www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/D...rol/Magpie.pdf

[lynx]

I have no issue with shooting them but the two air rifles i have are not up to the job and the last thing i want is an injured magpie flopping around a residential area - which also rules out a shoty.

Two near neighbours have cats which have been on the receiving end of the magpies.

[IronGiant]

We nearly had them nesting in a tree overhanging next doors shed, and they make an unbelievable racket, particularly when they found next doors cat sitting in their half built nest waiting for them, after 2 hours of squawking at the cat they decided to move on and build it elsewhere. I sympathise with your plight lynx...

[emmiller]

lynx
where in sunny lanarkshire are you from i live in hamilton and could arrange a mafia style assassination for you

martin

[lynx]

I'll pm you later.

[oakie]

You need this guy.

[nheather]

If they are on your land and can be shot easily without risk of pellets crossing your boundary then you are free to shoot them.

You have already mentioned that your air rifles are not up to the job - if so contact your local club (contact a gunshop if you are not sure) and you will have to beat off talented shooters with a dirty stick. They will be able to provide references of their ability - so no unnecessary cruelty.

Cheers,

Nigel

[stormchaser2005]

Originally Posted by nheather

If they are on your land and can be shot easily without risk of pellets crossing your boundary then you are free to shoot them.

You have already mentioned that your air rifles are not up to the job - if so contact your local club (contact a gunshop if you are not sure) and you will have to beat off talented shooters with a dirty stick. They will be able to provide references of their ability - so no unnecessary cruelty.

Cheers,

Nigel

You cannot simply go out and start shooting magpies. You have to be licensed and you can ony kill them for certain reasons, waking you up in the morning is not one of them

[nheather]

You cannot simply go out and start shooting magpies. You have to be licensed and you can ony kill them for certain reasons, waking you up in the morning is not one of them

I don't believe that is true - they are classified as vermin along with rats, vermin and crows.

I really don't beleive that you need any sort of licence but you do need permission from the landowner and you have to ensure that all activity is restricted to that land.

Obviously if you are removing them from a public place then I reckon you will need a licence but that is related to the location not the quarry.

Cheers,

Nigel

[signs]

"Kill them now ,they are flying vermin" , i was talking to an old fella some time ago and he mentioned some sort of trap especially for Magpies

[Dony]

Originally Posted by signs

"Kill them now ,they are flying vermin" , i was talking to an old fella some time ago and he mentioned some sort of trap especially for Magpies

Does it involve semtex?

[stormchaser2005]

Originally Posted by nheather

I don't believe that is true - they are classified as vermin along with rats, vermin and crows.

I really don't beleive that you need any sort of licence but you do need permission from the landowner and you have to ensure that all activity is restricted to that land.

Obviously if you are removing them from a public place then I reckon you will need a licence but that is related to the location not the quarry.

Cheers,

Nigel

You do need a license. If you check the link posted earlier in the thread you will see what you are allowed to do under that license. it states:

Under annual general licence issued under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981, by DEFRA, (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. It is not
permissible to kill birds for sport, or for any other reason.

Larsen traps come under the same rules with a few more added in.

This is the license:

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Ima..._tcm6-7669.pdf

There are a whole list of birds that are considered pests along with magpies but that does not mean that people can go out and shoot them just for the sake of it. It doesn't mean that they don't do it either just that it would not be legal for them to do so.