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Gungahlin magpie cull

RANGERS have caught and euthanased seven magpies at the Yerrabi Pond picnic area due to the high number of aggressive magpies, and the nature of the area which is used by a high number of people.

“There is no plan to undertake the same sort of action in any other location in Canberra,” a spokesperson said.

“The actions here were taken due to the circumstances. Some people have been injured as a result of aggressive magpies in the area, including one child who was scratched on the face.

“The aggressive behaviour has probably resulted from people feeding the birds over an extended period of time. Signage has been erected requesting people to stop feeding the birds. Rangers also visited the park each weekend in August to monitor bird behaviour in addition to providing advice about the magpies in the area.”

[Photo by Cazz, attribution licence]

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7 Responses to Gungahlin magpie cull

Lucei says: 4 September 2015 at 4:23 pm

Canberra, the Culling Capital. For goodness sake, keep away from the Magpies when it is nesting season, that’s all that is needed. There is no need to murder any Native animal or bird, this is disgusting act by the Rangers who seem to find killing the only way to solve problems due to the impact of humans on native animals. These poor innocent birds would have nests they are protecting with young relying on them. SHAME again!!!!!!

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Leigh says: 4 September 2015 at 4:46 pm

Exactly, how about people just avoid the area for a short while.
Just plain stupid Canberra.

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Lucei says: 4 September 2015 at 5:46 pm

Good point, how about the rangers closing that area for the short time the birds are nesting. There are so many places people can enjoy their picnic. Oh no, that would not involve killing would it. The Ranges are clearly a special breed.

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Diana says: 4 September 2015 at 6:02 pm

Idiot rangers “protecting’ idiot people. Ever thought of monitoring the people’s behaviour?. This really stinks – my family and i are so fed up with birds and animals being sacrificed because of human ignorance.

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Alice says: 4 September 2015 at 9:14 pm

I have found that befriending magpies in our backyards meant they never attacked us and would bring their babies to our yards too

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lindat says: 7 September 2015 at 9:47 am

Absolutely shocking. Very dispappointing that the rangers chose to kill these birds.
These birds trusted the humans and now the hand that feeds them destroys them? Why? that is just not fair to the birds.
Please do not kill any more birds. Just shoo them away from people if they are annoying someone. Culling the birds is not the answer, and you have now upset the balance and the young will perish without the leader birds in charge, as what Lucei has said.

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