Red in tooth and claw

[strange_complex]

I have just watched one of my blackbird chicks die after being pecked by a magpie. I banged hard on the window as soon as I saw it happening, but it was too late for that chick. It thrashed and twitched for a while, and then was still. I don't know where the parents are, and I can't tell if the other chicks are OK or not.

I feel really shaken up about it, although I did know that it was unlikely all four would survive. I saw some pigeons close by the nest earlier, too. I didn't think they were such ones for eating other birds' chicks as magpies, but it looks like they would, given half the chance.

I know this stuff happens all the time, but I had got really involved with these blackbirds. At this rate, I shall be sitting up all night with an air-gun, defending them whenever the parents aren't around.

Not happy.

Comments

[davesangel.livejournal.com]

That's awful *hugs* And that's why I hate magpies, they are so vicious. I had to rescue a seagull chick from a magpie once and I nursed it for days but it died too :( I might ask my dad, who knows a lot about birds, and see if he knows of something that would keep them away. It may be, now, that because the mother is aware of this happening that she or the father will stick around as much as possible to protect the remaining chicks.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think the mother and father are both on high alert. The problem is that if they spend all their time chasing off magpies, they can't go out and get worms to feed their chicks, so the chicks suffer either way. I found this discussion (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33029) on a bird-lovers' forum about the exact same problem, but the consensus seems to be that there's nothing you can do. :(