Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are poisoning and even killing native wildlife like owls, eagles, magpies, and quolls.
Even small amounts of chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death in these birds. Additionally, any type of alcohol or caffeine should never be given to magpies, as it can cause liver damage, dehydration, and even death.
Chemicals to always avoid include Brodifacoum, Bromadialone and Difenacoum. Brands include Talon, Fast Action RatSak, Mortein and The Big Cheese Fast Action baits. These poisons kill after just one feed, so generally, anything labelled as 'fast action' will contain these bird-killing poisons.
Bread lacks the appropriate nutrients that magpies need to grow strong bones, feathers and beaks. Raw mince is also a problem as it can expose the magpie to a parasitic disease (Toxoplasma gondii) which can be fatal.
Large bones, beef heads, fat, dead rabbits or any frozen carcasses and offal may be used as draw-bait.
Large populations of magpies can be successfully controlled using the narcotic poison alphachloralose.
Deterrents for magpies
Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees to scare the predators away. Magpies don't like the way light reflects from the surface. GuardnEyes scarecrow balloon, available from Dazer UK. It may be possible to deter them by playing a tape of a crow or rook distress call.
Cheese and bread should be off limits to magpies too, she said. "I would say no to dairy products, and if you have to feed other treats [give magpies] a teeny-tiny amount of oats and maybe a teeny-tiny amount of nuts in miniscule proportions.
There's one thing magpies are really scared of – flashing lights. You can keep magpies at bay by placing any reflective object in your yard.
While dairy products are not technically toxic, studies show that birds cannot digest lactose properly. Small amounts of lactose can be good for a bird's digestive system. But anything with more than 3.5% lactose can lead to digestion issues in birds.
Avitrol is used as a chemical frightening agent to remove pest birds from a given location. Avitrol as applied is a chemically treated grain bait. The active ingredient in Avitrol baits, 4-aminopyridine, is an acute oral toxicant which acts on the central nervous system and the motor nervous system.
Our wildlife has a higher capacity to cope with first generation rodenticides so we recommend use of Racumin or Ratsak Double Strength (but take care not to confuse it with other Ratsak products) – if and when all other means of rat and mice control have been exhausted.
Rabbits are amongst the most susceptible species to the effects of pindone; however other animals especially birds, cats, native rodents and macropods may be vulnerable to poisoning.
Magpies and the law
Magpies are protected throughout NSW, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs, or harm their young. If you feel a magpie is a serious menace, it should be reported to your local council or the nearest NPWS office.
Although all bird species may be affected, toxicity varies with species and the type of anticoagulant involved. Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides containing bromadiolone and brodifacoum have been implicated in the majority of wild Australian bird anticoagulant poisoning events.
It is toxic to them in high quantities and affects their nervous system. Under normal circumstances in the wild, birds are unlikely to take harmful amounts of salt. Never put out salted food onto the bird table, and never add salt to bird baths to keep water ice-free in the winter.
Some believe flashing lights scare them off, while others swear a zany wig, sticking eyes to the back of your head or opening an umbrella is the way to go. You could even attach a flag to your bike that is higher than your head.
However, as the well-known rhyme shows, it is generally only seeing a lone magpie that is supposed to bring bad luck. We're not entirely sure why this is but we do know that magpies often mate for life so seeing a single magpie may mean it has lost its mate and therefore the chance of it bringing bad luck is higher.
While it may be tempting to throw your bread scraps to the magpies in your garden, this is generally a bad idea. Bread lacks nutrients and can be harmful to a magpie's delicate stomach. You may also want to throw them meat scraps, but this is also a bit of a bad option.
Many people wish to control magpies in gardens because they take eggs and chicks of other birds.
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.
You may trim out the trees until the cover they provide is too thin for the crow or magpie to roost in comfortably. Frightening devices, such as scarecrows, eye-balloons and hawk kites, can be effective for a short time. To make them more effective, they will need to be moved frequently.
None of the research about magpies to date has found that magpies target specific colours, such as orange, yellow or purple. Instead, it is widely believed that they swoop purely to protect their young. Although they may not be enraged by certain colours, magpies that swoop tend to target specific types of people.