By BRIDGET CARTER
Steve Henderson acknowledges that magpies kill birds, rob nests and peck children.
But the Northland Regional Council pest controller is quite fond of the birds that are sometimes described as gangsters or sky-rats.
"They are a pretty smart bird. Just when you think you know what they are going
to do next, they do something different. I have quite a respect for them."
As one of six pest management officers throughout the country, the 42-year-old is trapping magpies at Waipu, 41km southeast of Whangarei, for what Landcare Research claims is a world-first study to find out if the birds deserve their bad reputation.
The three-year project looks at the impacts that magpies have on other species.
Final results, due out in a few months, could result in magpies being declared pests.
Mr Henderson says there have been many witness accounts of magpies killing birds and driving them away, but no data to justify spending the money to declare them pests.
"Before you can siphon off public money you need some facts and figures to back yourself up."
Magpies, have sharp, weapon-like beaks and can be vicious.
He has seen them kill mynahs, and they will also go for children, particularly those with blond hair.
Reaching into a cage and grabbing one of his trapped magpies, Mr Henderson acts confident around the birds, so they do not attack.
"If you are hesitant, they will pick up on it.
"You have to get in there and show them who's boss."
On one 900ha block, he rides around on his farmbike, scattering cages containing dog food as bait.
The birds he traps are later destroyed.
On another 900ha block, 30km away, the magpies are left alone.
At both locations, he goes to the same 36 sites and counts how many other birds he can hear and see and records the data. He wears the same bottle-green jacket every day so the birds know who he is.
Mr Henderson says the other pest controllers, who are doing the same work nationwide, are all finding that populations of tui and woodpigeons increase after magpies are trapped.
He has already trapped 193 this year, but 1700 have been caught in the Wairarapa.
Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/environment
