Magpies are intelligent, striking birds often admired for their glossy plumage and cheeky personalities. But when they decide your property is their new home, their constant presence can quickly turn from charming to frustrating.
Whether it’s swooping during breeding season, noisy early-morning calls, or damage to gardens and roofs, persistent magpies can become a serious nuisance. If you find yourself dealing with these territorial birds year after year, it’s time to take a strategic, humane approach to keep them away for good.
In this guide, we’ll explain why magpies keep coming back, what attracts them, and proven ways to deter them — all while staying compliant with wildlife protection laws.
1. Why Do Magpies Keep Coming Back?
Magpies are highly intelligent and territorial birds. Once they identify an area as safe, resourceful, and familiar, they’re likely to return — often to the same trees or roofs every year.
Some of the main reasons magpies keep returning include:
a. Food Sources
Magpies are omnivorous and opportunistic eaters. They’re drawn to pet food, compost bins, fruit trees, and open garbage. Easy meals are a powerful motivator for them to stick around.
b. Shelter and Nesting Sites
Tall trees, roof gutters, and quiet ledges make ideal nesting spots. If your property provides shelter from predators and the elements, magpies will see it as prime real estate.
c. Past Nesting Success
Magpies have excellent memories. If they’ve successfully raised chicks on your property before, they’ll likely return next season to reuse the same nesting site.
d. Safety from Predators
Urban environments offer safety from natural predators like hawks or snakes. Your yard may feel like a sanctuary — especially if you have large trees or tall fences.
2. Understanding Magpie Behaviour: The First Step to Control
Before trying to scare them off, it helps to understand how magpies think and behave.
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Breeding season (August–October) makes magpies particularly aggressive, especially males protecting nests.
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Outside breeding season, they are mostly curious, social, and interested in scavenging for food.
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Magpies are creatures of habit. Once they claim an area, they patrol it daily and will remember landmarks, feeding spots, and even faces.
That’s why scaring them off once isn’t enough — you need consistent, multi-layered deterrents to convince them your property isn’t worth the trouble.
3. How to Identify What’s Attracting Magpies to Your Home
Before implementing deterrents, take time to evaluate what’s drawing them in. Here’s a checklist:
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Are you leaving pet food outdoors?
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Do you have open compost or rubbish bins?
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Are there fruit trees or bird feeders nearby?
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Do magpies nest in nearby trees or gutters?
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Are your windows reflective, showing them their own image (which they might attack)?
Eliminate or modify these attractants first. Reducing food and shelter options makes your deterrent methods far more effective.
4. How to Scare Magpies Away (Humanely and Effectively)
When dealing with persistent magpies, humaneness and consistency are key. Australian and local wildlife laws protect magpies, meaning you can’t harm them — but you can use safe deterrents to make your property less appealing.
Here are some proven techniques for how to scare magpies away without causing harm:
a. Visual Deterrents
Magpies dislike unexpected movement and shiny reflections. Try using:
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Reflective tape or old CDs hanging from trees
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Scare-eye balloons with large eye-like designs
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Wind chimes or reflective streamers
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Plastic predator decoys (like owls or hawks)
Move them every few days so magpies don’t adapt to their presence.
b. Sound-Based Deterrents
Magpies are sensitive to sound frequencies. Devices that emit high-pitched or predator noises can deter them effectively. Alternatively, use:
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Motion-activated noise devices
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Portable radios (tuned to talk stations during the day)
Keep in mind: sound deterrents work best when used intermittently to avoid habituation.
c. Remove Food Sources
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Feed pets indoors or clean up immediately after feeding.
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Secure garbage bins with tight lids.
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Avoid overripe fruit falling from trees.
Magpies won’t stay if food is hard to find.
d. Block Nesting Spots
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Trim tall branches near your home.
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Install bird spikes on ledges and gutters.
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Seal small roof openings where birds might nest.
Preventing them from nesting is one of the most effective long-term strategies.
5. What Scares Magpies Away Long-Term
If short-term scare tactics aren’t enough, consider longer-term environmental adjustments.
The secret to what scares magpies away consistently is to make your space unpredictable and less comfortable for them to settle in. Try these tips:
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Rotate deterrents regularly: Change the location of decoys or reflective objects weekly.
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Alter your outdoor routine: Magpies notice patterns — varying your activities can keep them uneasy.
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Use strong scents: Some homeowners find success with eucalyptus oil or vinegar sprays around nesting sites.
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Professional assessment: Wildlife control experts can identify specific behaviour triggers and customize solutions.
If magpies have nested before, professional intervention may be necessary to relocate the nest lawfully and safely.
6. When to Call Professionals
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, magpies just won’t leave. When that happens, it’s best to contact licensed wildlife control specialists.
Professionals have the tools and experience to:
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Safely remove old nests (under legal guidelines)
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Install deterrents in high or hard-to-reach areas
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Advise on long-term property protection
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Handle any health risks associated with droppings or carcasses
In cases where a magpie has died on your property, it’s equally important to remove the carcass quickly and safely. Decomposition attracts other pests like flies, ants, and rats. Expert dead animal removal magpie services ensure the area is cleaned, disinfected, and odour-free — preventing secondary infestations or lingering smells.
7. Avoid These Common Mistakes
Even well-intentioned homeowners sometimes make mistakes that invite magpies back. Here’s what not to do:
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Don’t feed them intentionally. They’ll associate your property with food and return daily.
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Don’t destroy nests during breeding season. This can lead to fines and aggressive behaviour from parent birds.
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Don’t use toxic substances or harmful traps. They’re illegal and can harm native wildlife.
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Don’t rely on one method alone. Combine deterrents for lasting results.
Consistency, patience, and variation are your best tools for success.
8. Preventing Magpie Returns for Good
Once you’ve managed to drive them away, prevention is key. Implement these measures to ensure they don’t come back:
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Inspect your roof and trees every few months for signs of new nests.
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Maintain your yard by pruning branches and clearing food scraps.
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Keep deterrents visible year-round, even outside breeding season.
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Educate your neighbours — collective action works better when everyone participates.
Over time, magpies will learn your property isn’t a welcoming environment and move elsewhere.
9. The Balance Between Coexistence and Control
While magpies can be intimidating or frustrating, it’s important to remember they play a vital role in the ecosystem. They help control insect populations and even protect smaller songbirds from larger predators.
The goal isn’t to eliminate them completely but to encourage them to relocate away from human spaces. Humane deterrence ensures safety for both homeowners and wildlife.
10. Final Thoughts
Persistent magpies can test your patience, but with the right combination of deterrents and consistency, you can reclaim your property.
Start by identifying what attracts them, eliminate those triggers, and use visual and sound-based deterrents strategically. If the problem persists, professional wildlife experts can help you develop a long-term solution that keeps your space peaceful and magpie-free.
Remember: prevention is the key to harmony. With small adjustments, you can protect your home while respecting the natural behaviour of these fascinating — yet feisty — birds.