A magpie nest in Antwerp, Belgium, containing anti-bird spikes
Auke-Florian Hiemstra
A surprising phenomenon has been observed in various locations around Europe, where birds are using the anti-bird spikes installed on buildings to construct their nests.
According to Auke-Florian Hiemstra, a researcher at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, “It sounds like a joke. But it’s kind of heart-warming that these birds are actually outsmarting us and using anti-bird material for their own benefits.”
Birds typically use thorny branches to build nests, employing them as a protective barrier against predators. However, in urban areas, these branches are scarce, leading some birds to utilize the anti-bird spikes instead.
The behavior has been observed in carrion crows (Corvus corone) at a location in the Netherlands and in Eurasian magpies (Pica pica) at sites in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Scotland.
A magpie in Antwerp, Belgium, constructed a nest with around 1500 metal spikes, with the spikes on the side of the building nearest to the tree missing while the spikes on the other side remained intact. This suggests that the birds actually removed the spikes rather than finding loose ones.
The researchers have also discovered magpie nests with defensive domes made of barbed wire and knitting needles.
It remains unclear whether the nests with the spikes provide better protection for the chicks compared to regular nests. Hiemstra states, “Is there more breeding success when birds build nests with the anti-bird spikes? It could be possible, but we currently have too few observations to determine.”
The researchers hope to encourage more people to closely examine nests, in order to uncover further examples of this behavior.
Journal reference: Deinsea
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