Non-motoring > Nature red in tooth ... Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Andrew-T Replies: 6
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 14:54 
 Nature red in tooth ... - Andrew-T
This morning SWMBO noticed a corpse on the tarmac outside the kitchen window, having also seen several magpies squawking around. Turned out to be a small hedgehog with some essential parts missing. Apparently this is not an unknown habit of those bad-tempered birds.
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 15:11 
 Nature red in tooth ... - CGNorwich
Like other corvids magpies are great scavengers. Just imagine what the world would be like if all those dead animals and birds were left to rot. A handsome bird is Maggie Pie.
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 15:54 
 Nature red in tooth ... - Bromptonaut
Yep Magpies and other corvids are all over roadkill.

So are Red Kites. We got a magnificent view of one scoffing a muntjac corpse in the Chilterns early this summer.
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 17:36 
 Nature red in tooth ... - martin aston
We see occasional sparrowhawks in the garden. This summer one had a wood pigeon, whether killing it or finding the body I don’t know. She took about an hour to tear it apart and eat it.
We also get buzzards and kites, the latter swoop low over the houses so I assume someone is ill advisedly feeding them.
They can get to be pests with snatching food if they get too accustomed to humans
All are magnificent birds though.
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 22:51 
 Nature red in tooth ... - Andrew-T
I think pigeons are sparrowhawks' favourite target. It's happened in our garden too. Those pigeons seem to have no difficulty keeping up the supply though.
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 Thu 8 Oct 26 22:52 
 Nature red in tooth ... - bathtub tom
I've seen a magpie dismembering a fledgling on a nearby roof, not a pretty sight with the parents flying around!
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 Fri 9 Oct 26 08:00 
 Nature red in tooth ... - MD
The only good Magpie is a dead one.
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