Magpies can overrun gardens and keep smaller birds from using feeders, but a simple, free solution exists: hang shiny or moving objects around your garden. The reflective flashes and unpredictable movement make magpies feel unsafe, encouraging them to move elsewhere.
Why shiny objects work
Magpies are clever birds, so traditional scarecrows rarely work long-term because they stay still and are quickly recognised as non-threatening. Moving items, however, create uncertainty, as magpies cannot tell whether the object is alive. Shiny surfaces also mimic the quick movement of a predator, making magpies believe another animal is present.
Gardening experts Lucy Hutchings and Kate Cotterill, founders of She Grows Veg, recommend rotating deterrents. They said: “Classic scarecrows don’t work forever, but rotating deterrents like shiny objects, fluttering tape, or reflective pinwheels can help. We hang CDs, foil strips, or even reflective wind chimes around beds.”
Where to place deterrents
Place shiny or moving objects near high-up perching spots such as tall trees, fence posts, or shed roofs. Avoid putting them directly next to bird feeders or baths, as they could scare away the smaller birds you want to attract. High placement works because small garden birds tend to stay near feeders or feed on the ground, so they are less likely to notice the deterrents.
Free household items like tin foil strips, old CDs, takeaway trays, or disposable pie dishes work well. Alternatively, reflective garden tape, pinwheels, metallic streamers, or reflective bird tape can be bought online.
Keep magpies guessing
Magpies are curious and will eventually realise the objects are harmless if left in one spot too long. Using multiple objects and moving them around every few days keeps the deterrent effective. Moving them about twice a week should keep magpies out of your garden for the rest of autumn.
