jok 3,325 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Strange these black and white menaces, but you have to give them credit when it comes to food. I sorted out a few rabbits the other evening and as it was getting dark chucked the guts over the hedge into some fairly rough brambles etc. First light and the feckers were arguing about who gets what. Now they didn't see me chuck them and it was early so how did they know. Smell I reckon. Who knows better???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lab 10,979 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'd say vision....and the fact there raking b*****ds and check hedge lines all the time for eggs and chicks. c**ts. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pesky1972 5,350 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I could only guess but as carrion is a staple for most corvids why wouldn't they have developed a nose for finding it. Different league maybe but the turkey vulture has an incredible sense of smell. If you haven't seen the thing Attenborough done in Life of Birds it's worth a watch. Skip to about 15.50 on the clip below ?? http://youtu.be/ShPhYUQmRN8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'd agree with Lab, they miss nothing and sight is a magpie's greatest tool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j1985 1,984 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'd agree with Lab, they miss nothing and sight is a magpie's greatest tool. They often don't spot me or my air rifle lol 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'd agree with Lab, they miss nothing and sight is a magpie's greatest tool. They often don't spot me or my air rifle lol I do call them in myself but you wont shoot to many by walking to a spot in full vision of them. They'll find a single egg in the middle of a field of grass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The one 8,511 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I also reckon it's there eye sight it was maybe a fox that smelled out the remains and they where squeaking about that ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JDHUNTING 1,817 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) Not maggies but similar crows, I left a load of rubbish bags out one night and got woke up by them ripping bags open, they only ripped the ones with food in so without any other indication they mustve of smelled it. Edited March 2, 2016 by JDHUNTING 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CHEVINFOX 3,537 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 yes https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=h_rUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=can+magpies+smell&source=bl&ots=srjTESw-YX&sig=Gmv1_Yh0usGWRKbD-Jq8bhVHRbI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1tLzr3qLLAhXB1xQKHey6AOIQ6AEIUjAJ#v=onepage&q=can%20magpies%20smell&f=false 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pesky1972 5,350 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 yes https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=h_rUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=can+magpies+smell&source=bl&ots=srjTESw-YX&sig=Gmv1_Yh0usGWRKbD-Jq8bhVHRbI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1tLzr3qLLAhXB1xQKHey6AOIQ6AEIUjAJ#v=onepage&q=can%20magpies%20smell&f=falseInteresting?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MIK 4,763 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 A few years ago I had a Maggie in a cat trap that was sett in amongst some bales ...it was 2 bales in and around another bale so I'm sure it found it by smell ....I also had a buzzard in the same trap (released unharmed) which was in a thick wood and was well hidden and once again I'm sure it found it by scent 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
South hams hunter 8,934 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Birds do have a sense of smell, look at gulls and food Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jok 3,325 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 SHH. Not so sure about gulls. Where we live (mid Derbs) it's a way of life for them ie: the tip. Thinking about it, on the many times I've gone there I have never seen a corvid. I wonder if the gulls are preditorial. Sorry, another topic. I kind of like the idea of the fox upsetting the maggies rule, or even a feral cat. This is becoming quite interesting as a debate. Thank you. Jok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
South hams hunter 8,934 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 The reason I say it is because we've been fishing mid sea and gulls have turnt up not long after gutting a fish. No way they could have seen it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jok 3,325 Posted March 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Pesky1972. What a read. I'm perhaps not daft after all. I was going to suggest that the college boys on here might try something useful but it seems I'm too late. How on earth did you dig that up anyway. Not a former college boy are you.lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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