Collared dove repeatedly chasing magpie!

djelibeybi · 10-05-2008, 00:18

Has anyone else ever witnessed a smaller bird repeatedly pursuing a magpie?!

During the past week, members of my family have witnessed a collared dove chasing a magpie round the garden. Pretty impressive considering the collared dove is about half the size of the maggie!

When members of my family told me about it, I just shrugged it off, but I saw it chasing the magpie twice this afternoon. It was really going for it, swooping around the pergolas, with the magpie doing it's best to lose it by squeezing through small gaps, doubling back on itself etc.

All the magpie was doing each time, was looking for yummy stuff on the lawn next to the pond.

I did wonder whether the collared dove has a nest nearby as magpies can be buggers for raiding nests, but the collared dove only returns regularly to a large tree a couple of gardens down from ours.

Other than the nest theory, does anyone else have any ideas as to why we've got a case of bullying going on in our garden?!

Heyesey · 10-05-2008, 01:14

I'm stumped to think of any reason other than a nest - however, sometimes a bird that wants to nest, or is nesting, will try to chase off any predatory bird it comes across, not just within range of the nest, but anywhere it happens to go while hunting. I've seen a crow get mugged by a pair of magpies just a couple of days ago, and magpies aren't as big as crows. I've also seen a magpie get chased off by a blackbird. (!)

djelibeybi · 10-05-2008, 02:07

The pair of blackbirds who utilise our garden are extremely territorial, and we've had two pairs of magpies nicking mud and grass roots from our sodden lawn to build their nests, not to mention the robin who gets REALLY larey if another robin deigns to enter HIS territory, but never seen the collared doves get stroppy before.

I'm wondering if the magpies and collared doves have decided to both build their nests in the same big tree a couple of gardens down, and maybe THAT's why the doves are getting ratty?

Ah well.......in the meantime, we're getting some amazing displays of acrobatic flying and ingenuity on the part of the magpie trying to make good it's getaway!

djelibeybi · 10-05-2008, 02:12

Thinking about it......I've seen magpies mobbing crows and owls before now........and crows mobbing birds of prey too.

Crows make me laugh! They're cheeky characters. I find it hysterical watching them get cocky with birds of prey where they'll fly up under them, flip onto their backs and try and grab the bird of prey's feet with their own, then "leg" it as fast as they can before the bird of prey dives at them. They're like really annoying kids!

One year we watched an adult blackbird in our back garden trying to encourage the fledgling to eat from half an apple we'd thrown out for them. The fledgling really wasn't interested, but still the adult kept trying to encourage them to eat it, so the fledgling picked it up and flung it at the adult!

Nutters, the lot of 'em!

RosyRat · 10-05-2008, 11:03

We have a pair of territorial blackbirds nesting in at the edge of the garden. The male struts around the lawn every morning, lifting worms and hopping onto walls. The female will join him and, quite often, they'll start to argue. She'll sit on a wall and shout at him and he'll go all huffy and hop away. Then they'll get back together and do the worm gathering thing. They're a delight to watch.

Paolo Coopio · 10-05-2008, 13:41

We've got collared doves in our connifer.
I've often seen them chasing the nearby magpies away.

*Wallace* · 10-05-2008, 13:47

Wish it would chase the sodding magpie i saw emptying a blackbirds nest yesterday poor mrs blackbird fetched every hollow egg from her nest and put them on the grass.

Mathom · 10-05-2008, 15:34

There's a crow family in Moorfoot, they nest in the trees in the lightwells within the building and you can look down into the nests to see the eggs. It's their territory and they chase birds away who are a threat, plus sometimes sit above the door challenging people going in and out of the building. Very funny! There are also Lapwings that use the rooftop and find grubs to eat on the terraces. It ought to be a good place for pigeons to nest and roost but the crows chase them off.

taxman · 10-05-2008, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

There are also Lapwings that use the rooftop and find grubs to eat on the terraces. It ought to be a good place for pigeons to nest and roost but the crows chase them off.

Lapwings, really?

I've never seen them around there

Mathom · 10-05-2008, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxman

Lapwings, really?

I've never seen them around there

Best place to see them was always from Level 11, looking down towards the West Wing. It's amazing what animal life there is in the city centre if you keep your eyes open! I've heard about the birds of prey but shall not say where they've been seen for obvious reasons!