In brief

🌞 Enjoying nature on your terrace or balcony is a pleasure, especially in spring when you can watch the fledglings and pollinators.

🌿 Some plants are natural repellents against magpies.

🚫 To keep magpies away, opt for various cruelty-free tricks in the garden.

When the temperatures are mild and the sun is out, it's always nice to enjoy a little quiet time on your terrace or balcony. It's a great opportunity to observe nature in full operation, the first flights of chicks in spring, the dance of the pollinators... It's always nice to see certain animals, strange but not always harmful, and certain birds, such as blackbirds and chickadees, evolving in your garden.

Other, more invasive species, on the other hand, can very quickly make your daily life a living hell. While the song of the titmouse is very pleasant to listen to, the same cannot be said of the magpie. This large black-and-white passerine is not known for its harmonious singing. Similarly, while it is considered a sign of good fortune in Asian culture, it is seen more as a thief by Europeans.

A natural repellent against garden pests

Since magpies are often undesirable birds, it's only natural that you should want to get rid of them. As well as being a terrible predator (they have no qualms about destroying and attacking the nests of smaller birds), magpies have no qualms about attacking your garden, your vegetable patch (strawberries, tomatoes, etc.) or your orchard (cherry, raspberry, plum, apple, etc.). Worse still, it can even damage the equipment in your garden.

If you want to get rid of them without using lethal methods either, you can turn to aromatic plants such as rosemary, lavender or mint, placed near the areas of your garden you want to protect, can also deter them. Their secret? The smell these plants give off, which is unbearable for magpies. Another advantage? You can use aromatic plants in the kitchen to spice up your dishes.

How do you scare away magpies?

Are repellent plants not enough to keep unwanted birds out of your garden? Would you like to try other methods, but without being cruel? Opt for an ultrasound device rather than traps. The impact will be much less negative on the ecosystem. This will allow you to broadcast the sounds made by the magpies' predators, causing them to flee to other locations.

Another option? Scarecrows and radios (magpies hate the sound of radios, which they associate with the presence of humans) ... these are sure to scare them away. You can also try out the reel scarecrow, a small accessory consisting of a thin strip of polypropylene that produces vibrations when blown by the wind. Be careful, though, because magpies are intelligent animals: these tricks will only frighten them for a while.

What are magpies attracted to?

Are you constantly being bothered by magpies? Do they always seem to come back no matter how many times you chase them away? Are you wondering what it is that attracts them?

The answer is simple: food. Fruit trees, seeds left in the grass to feed other birds or your chickens, bread ... everything is good for these unwanted birds.

To make them understand that they shouldn't come back to your house, avoid leaving food scraps in your garden as much as possible. Always pick up any fruit that falls on the ground, and take care to leave bins closed. You can also protect seedlings, trees and shrubs with special nets.