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Post by accipiter on Jan 16, 2023 16:11:06 GMT
As you can probably guess I haven’t had much chance to walk the woods of late or anywhere else due to the inclement weather. Nevertheless, I’m still observing my little owls hunting for worms from the hide. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the technique, they employ but once the owl has grasped the worm, they begin to pull mentioning the pressure whilst at some point stopping. I presume to allow the worm to contract in its hole at which point they succeed in getter their reward. Mind you the owl doesn’t always succeed, in the event falling backwards, the timing being completely out of sync.
However, the main point of this post is all about corvid behaviour, I think most members know I study British raptor and corvid behaviour. But of late I’ve been observing crows, rooks, and jackdaws on the bird feeders in this case the swinging type of feeder. However, my question is related to magpies, in as much as they haven’t copied the crows, rooks, and jackdaws in swinging on the feeders so I just wonder if anyone has seen magpies doing so. And oh, I’m well aware that humans swing but I ‘d rather not have any jokes in that direction please.
I’ll end this post by saying I hope I haven’t gone round the houses too much so to speak, as I thought it would add some background as to what I been up to of late. You’ll also find I’ve also gone round the houses in the music section too, completing going off piste in the event; in order to explain what I’ve also been up to. But bear with me, all will come crystal clear, at least I do hope so. I could of course opened up another tread under another heading but for my sins it made more sense to remain in the same place; so, put it this way everything is relative.
Alan
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Post by accipiter on Jan 18, 2023 15:41:53 GMT
Having no replies to my question concerning magpies, I presume no one has seen magpies feeding on bird feeders. However, I’m upon the opinion its quite a common occurrence, it’s just the fact the pair of carrion crows we have here are probably dissuading the magpies from doing so.
Alan
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Post by ianr on Jan 20, 2023 7:16:59 GMT
They don't come on to the feeders here but will take food thrown up onto the flat shed roofs but then so do all the other birds around here ian
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Post by Tringa on Jan 20, 2023 8:29:26 GMT
Not swinging on a feeder(ie a successful attempt) but I have seen one magpie trying to swing on a feeder.
It only attached itself for a few seconds before losing its grip and then flew off.
Dave
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Post by Psamathe on Jan 20, 2023 14:56:53 GMT
Magpies in my garden seem very long term "cautious". They used to only appear in neighbours garden but then started appearing in mine but some distance from the house. Over the year they have gradually moved closer and closer to the house and now occasionally down to where the feeders are but they seem to ignore them and ignore the debris on the ground from the feeders.
I do also have rooks who also generally stay away from the house but will occasionally land on a feeder to discover they can't get anything because of the squirrel cages (because I don't like feeding the pigeons). Only exception on the rooks and house is from April I have to tape clingfilm to the bottom part of all windows and glazed doors as a rook aggressively attacks the windows and the clingfilm seems to stop these attacks. And the attack are "significant" in that they do damage to the wooden window frames requiring wood filler and re-painting. Generally cling film has to stay on until mid-late summer. Attacks (before cling film put-up) are many times per day. I assume something to do with mating and male aggressive behaviour towards what they see as another male but is just a reflection - but that's a guess.
Ian
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Post by accipiter on Jan 20, 2023 16:52:40 GMT
No magpies today, but a pair of jackdaws were swinging away on the fat ball feeder quite happily.
Ian the rooks could after the linseed oil in the putty.
Alan
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Post by Psamathe on Jan 20, 2023 23:58:06 GMT
..... Ian the rooks could after the linseed oil in the putty. Alan (taking things a bit off-topic - sorry) I can't be definitive but windows are held in with wood & tiny amouny of silicone. I assumed something to do with aggression as it starts same time each year and ends at some point through summer. Neighbours at one point had rock attacking their stainless chimney from their woodburner (still shiney/reflective though any reflections must be somewhat distorted). Ian
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Post by ianr on Jan 21, 2023 7:46:43 GMT
I don't know what your rooks are up to but back in the day when glazing was a part of my job 'plumber' it was always the blue tits that would pull the putty out whether it was linseed or metal casement putty. One job we did where the joiners went round replacing the old metal frames and put wood ones in, 'street by street' we would glaze them and every morning have to go back and replace what had been pulled out often more than once. This was pre double glazing and upvc windows. Oh a thought on the rooks. Could they be looking for softer wood and checking for beetles and there larva? ian
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Post by accipiter on Jan 21, 2023 9:56:12 GMT
Oh a thought on the rooks. Could they be looking for softer wood and checking for beetles and there larva? ian Forgot to mention that one, yes that’s another distinct possibility Ian. That and insects in general e.g. spiders. Alan
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Post by Tringa on Jan 22, 2023 16:31:38 GMT
Agree about the wariness of magpies.
Although we had one try to get on a feeder they are very infrequent visitors to the garden. Even when at the end of the garden our presence at the back of the house, but still inside, is enough to spook them and they leave immediately.
The only exceptions are if I put a pile of peanuts on the ground, even quite close to the house - they are still very easily frightened but they will come down; and live mealworms - they are prepared to put up with more for a prize like that.
The local carrion crows behave in a similar manner. I think it is the proximity of the houses because, what I assume are the same crows, come very close when I walk with the dog in the morning because they know they will get a few bits of dog treat.
Dave
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