These fun, bite-sized fruits are a hit with birds all over the world, and it's no wonder why. Grapes are very sweet to the taste and contain a rather high level of fructose. This means that they can work to give your bird a quick energy boost—but should be fed sparingly for that very reason.
Birds also enjoy other fruits such as oranges, plums, apples, grapes, cherries, crabapples, and prickly pear. Birds may swallow small fruits whole, and any seeds that are defecated could regrow into new plants for future fruit crops. Larger fruits may be pierced, shredded, or torn for birds to reach the flesh.
Bright yellow, red, and orange vegetables and fruits, including bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, mango, papaya, and cantaloupe, all contain a great deal of vitamin A which is a critical nutrient in a birds' diet.
Birds can eat the flesh of the pineapple—the portions that we ourselves consume. They, like us, won't typically consume the tough outer layer (or pineapple skins) of the fruit.
Some of the best foods for gut-loading insects include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes. These foods are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will help support the overall health of the insects and the magpies that consume them.
Raw meat, cheese and bread off the menu
Brisbane bird and exotic animal vet Deborah Monks said raw meat and mince, although popular, did the most damage to magpie health.
You can also give them wild fruits as a treat. Avoid feeding magpies raw meat, cheese, and bread.
Magpies feed on small insects and animals that live on, or just under, the surface of the ground. A favourite is the scarab beetle, which is a major pest of garden lawns.
The diet of a magpie
Their main diet in summer is grassland invertebrates, such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, worms and leatherjackets. In winter, they eat more plant material, such as wild fruits, berries and grains, with household scraps and food scavenged from bird tables or chicken runs, pet foods etc.
Baked potatoes (cold and opened up), roast and even mashed potatoes with added real fats are all suitable food for birds.
Fruits may be also offered and many birds will eat them. Do not give your bird chocolate, coffee or avocado – these are toxic to birds.
Raw almonds are typically safe for birds to consume. But it is important to avoid giving birds any nuts that have been salted, or which have other ingredients added that could pose a risk to avian visitors in your garden.
If you are considering leaving some cucumber out for the birds, the good news is that it is utterly harmless to avian species and can do them some good when offered in small amounts. Cucumber can provide birds with some of what they need when included as a small, supplemental part of a balanced diet.
Porridge oats could also be a nutritious food source for the birds in your garden, and chances are you'll have them readily available in your kitchen. However, ensure the oats are uncooked as cooked oats could harden around a bird's beak.
It's not the worst food you can give to birds. It's not toxic like chocolate or honey; a small amount probably won't cause significant problems. However, it's best to avoid feeding popcorn to birds in large quantities. Never give birds salted, cheese-covered, buttered, or caramel popcorn.
They LOVE grape stems. They love to shred them to bits until they are just a bunch of fibers. Given I used to have chickens that loved grape leaves, fruit, and stems, I should've tried them with parrots.
While it may be tempting to feed magpies your kitchen scraps, it's best to stick to their natural diet. This includes insects, worms and bugs. You can either source these from your garden, or purchase them from your local pet store.
Avoid: Feeding Magpies and other wild birds, as they are very good at finding their own food and can become sick if they eat old seed or processed foods like bread. Riding your bike near a nesting Magpie as they are more likely to swoop bike riders than people walking.
Interesting fact: It's true, magpies remember your face. They have excellent recall for faces and very long memories. So, if you've been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you're likely to get the same treatment again.
And since magpies can live between 25 and 30 years and are territorial, they can develop lifelong friendships with humans. This bond can extend to trusting certain people around their offspring.
They mate for life
These extremely loyal birds are with their partners until death do they part. On the off chance the male magpie passes away before the female, the female will take on another male partner who will help her raise and protect her young.
"They suffer from high cholesterol if fed too much processed stuff," says Associate Professor Darryl Jones, deputy director of Environmental Futures Centre at Griffith University. "If you have to feed them, the best things are dry and wet cat and dog food."
Note: When feeding stone fruits or fruits with seeds such as Apples, Plums and Grapes - seeds must be removed! While fruit and vegetable are fantastic for your bird, they do not serve as a complete diet and should be supplemented with other dry foods such as seeds, nuts and pellets.
What do magpies drink? Magpies drink water and only water. While they'll get some water from food, especially during summer, magpies will frequently drink from garden birdbaths and ponds. So make sure your birdbath is regularly topped up with fresh, clean water - this is one of the best ways to support garden birds!
Magpies are a common bird species known for their intelligence and adaptability. They are also known to have a varied diet, including fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes.