[Rupert the bear]

The Magpies are decimating the swallows nests this year, there have been considerable losses , as fast as I shoot them more appear and continue the destruction. Its getting quite upsetting.
Does any one have any suggestions on how to deal with this ? So far 28 magpies this month dispatched and a couple of crows.

[Womble]

Larsen trap? 

[Rupert the bear]

got traps ,  savvy lot here     sit in hide, and I hear them behind me , best results are getting hidden* before daylight as I will be again tomorrow morning.
I know their routine, times of recce flights , feeding times, just having to sit and wait.
 

* so well hidden I once had a conversation with the Liquid Nitrogen delivery guy, and he never found me !!

[Rupert the bear]

I've now decided to hang up a few of the dead magpies in the hope of deterring others,would this work ?

[Rupert the bear]

I'm glad to say weeks of sitting on sentry duty and a few deceased magpies strung up along with a couple of owl decoys in the steading the swallow population has recovered somewhat .
The steading has become a "no go " area for the pesky predators, and the swallows are thriving.



I must be mad !

[pgkevet]

I must be mad !

..no argument here..

[doganjo]

No your not mad, but I am!  Bloody magpies are stealing all my eggs.  And they're multplying!  And I don't have a gun.

Fancy a holiday in Scotland?   

[DrMunns]

I've now decided to hang up a few of the dead magpies in the hope of deterring others,would this work ?

It does work, a friend of mine write his dissertation at uni about it

[doganjo]

I just found a half eaten pigeon body that my 19 year old cat got the better of.  Would that work to scare them off do you think 

[Rupert the bear]

I just found a half eaten pigeon body that my 19 year old cat got the better of.  Would that work to scare them off do you think 

half eaten pigeon body = crow magnet !!  life size cutout of the cat might be a better bet 
19 years , well done that cat !
ours lie in the sun and watch the birds go by .

[doganjo]

My neighbour thought he had foxes visitng his garden when he found a few baby rabbits with no heads and front legs.  Umm nope, that's my Rio!!!