Decoy or Deterent ????

[corkscrew]

I was having a problem with 3 magpies in my garden.
they were round the pond a lot taking my golden orfe fry.
also i have a feeders for the finches, any baby birds that came to them were attacked.

the magies would never go in front of the only place in the garden were it is safe for me to shoot.
so i bought a maggie deek and put it in front of the backstop and baited up with the usual tit bits.

since then i havnt seen hide nor hair of them .
<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::rolleyes:-->
regards Seggy

[Bob]

a job well done

[Farmboy]

Had a similar thing happen. I found that the magpies on myy shoot just shout at my decoy for a while and then leave. One decoy that works well for me though is a little owl. They hate the thing and mob it on sight usually giving me the chance for a shot or two.

Gareth T.

[Sammie]

I had the same problem Seggy

I baited them with a makeshift nest, 3 hens eggs (one broken) and some of my leftover tuna salad <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D--> Placed it within easy shooting distance of my bedroom window and zap ... got them <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::)-->

It worked! I got a family of 3, then the same again a bit later.

It worked for me so must having been doing something right for a change <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::rolleyes:-->

[Kev.]

Hi corkscrew, I have posted before about the use of Magpie deeks, if you study magpies you will notice that they rarely keep still, always flitting about, so when they see a stationary magpie it raises doubts, and as a consiquence they will sit in a tree chattering at it untill they feel threatened and move off.
The trick is to suspend the deek just clearing the ground using fine fishing line, so that it moves around in the wind, this movment attracts the others, and should give you enough time for a shot. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:;)-->

Although as Gary c told me, baiting with Sammie's apple pie is a sure way to make sure they stay on the deck <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:;)--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D-->

[Sammie]

Oi watch it Kev <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::p-->

You snuck that in when I was peeping at non airgun, crafty thing you <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D-->

Nothing wrong with my apple pie, if you're very persuasive I may even make you one <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin:;)-->

[corkscrew]

thanks for the replies guys.

Sammie
i tried the eggs before i got the deek, one maggie flew down and i took a shot but the bugger ducked and i gave him a centre parting (which was quite attractive to the other magpies judging by the time they spent examining it sat in next doors tree).

ok will try the swinging deek next.
if that dont work Sammie i will send an order for apple pie <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D--> (now thats really getting heavy)

Seggy

[Sammie]

I'll start cooking Seggy <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D-->

[simonwoods]

sam, i understand you dont want to give me an address for yourself, BUT,i still have this book you fancied, the ufo reports of rendelsham forest, it was gifted to me by longun, so, anybody elses address would do fine, that is if you are still interested. simon. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::)-->

[gary_cooper]

If its Sammie you're after drop her an e-mail matey, as she is at my place and I won't let her on the PC..

[shadow11ray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Seggy:
I was having a problem with 3 magpies in my garden.
they were round the pond a lot taking my golden orfe fry.
also i have a feeders for the finches, any baby birds that came to them were attacked.

the magies would never go in front of the only place in the garden were it is safe for me to shoot.
so i bought a maggie deek and put it in front of the backstop and baited up with the usual tit bits.

since then i havnt seen hide nor hair of them .
<img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="Roll Eyes" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::rolleyes:-->
regards Seggy[/quote]
Spoil sport's arn't they <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D--> <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::D-->
Liam J

sammie - can anyone order these pies? if so, build me a few please. <img src="http://jsramsbottom.co.uk/bbs/e/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" width="15" height="15"><!--graemlin::p-->