Defence/Help

I'm caught in a 'wildlife trap'! We encourage birds to the garden BUT.....what can I do to prevent the magpies taking all nest-building contents from my hanging baskets, whilst still having baskets that are visually pleasing? :rolleyes:

 

small windmills attached to the side of the baskets.

 

Thanks. They're so brazen I doubt that would put them off!

 

You can get a migpie trap.

 

Woops! How embarrassing: there was so much going on here when the three birds made their attack on the hanging baskets, that I made a mistake- they were not magpies, but jackdaws!
Does that make any difference to potential deterrents?
We thought hanging recycled junk CD's might work, but then they're shiny and jackdaws like shiny things....
Thanks to my respondees and apologies for my error.

 

I have this with my hanging baskets....the mulch liner is just heaven for them and in ripping that to shreds they also damaged all the plants.

I had to accept defeat....hate the look of the cardboard liners but found some baskets with the outer look of them is all small branches/twigs which are clipped in so will be secure enough to stop them from nicking them hopefully....

They were quite cheap too from The Range..not sure whether thats a nationwide store or not.

 

Thanks, that's really helpful. Are those the cheap baskets that look a bit like a bird's nest? if so I can get those easily; I can see how they would be more difficult for birds to get the lining out. I haven't heard of The Range - you don't happen to know the manufacturer do you?

Have a good Easter weekend

 

I came across some suitable baskets, I think in Wilkinsons - therefore cheap! :D I'd certainly look around the cheap shops - lots of them have gardening stuff these days, and there's always B+Q! As far as jackdaws / magpies are concerned - they're so closely related what applies to one, applies to the other, particularly re behaviour - so don't worry!

 

Yes the one's that look like birds nests (irony there eh!!). Cant remember the manufacturer but there are bound to be similar ones on the market etc. They have a polythene liner inside so compost stays in etc.

 

Thanks again. They were back again today. We decided to try an experiment putting some of the basket filler they like into an 'empty' hanging basket so that they could help themselves without wrecking my plants. We then had to go out. When we returned, the whole 'lump' had gone; so we'll never know whether the jackdaws now have a palacial nest - or whether the wind just blew it all away! Good bit of science/lateral thinking for the 4yr old grandaughter tho!