Bees kill magpies??

A place for bee-ginners to ask questions and receive answers from experienced beekeepers.
Post Reply
User avatar
Kens
Forum Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: February 27th, 2015, 8:28 pm
Location: 51*33'10"N 113*38'3"W

Bees kill magpies??

Unread post by Kens »

Found a dead magpie on the ground about a foot in front of a hive. I'm pretty sure it didn't just die of old age in that location!

Its a very strong hive with lots of bees flying in these recent warm days. It makes sense that a magpie would be attracted to the dead bees in front of the hive but why/how did it die?

Is it possible that it was stung to death?
User avatar
Countryboy
Forum Regular
Posts: 605
Joined: November 8th, 2010, 9:37 pm
Location: Central Ohio
Contact:

Re: Bees kill magpies??

Unread post by Countryboy »

I would say it is highly unlikely, although it is possible it got stung once and had an allergic reaction which killed it. The feathers are probably too thick for many bees to be able to reach the flesh with their stingers. Bees have trouble dealing with thick fur, which is why they go for the eyes, nose, and mouth of predators.

Look at the bird's body. Are there tons of stingers and venom sacks still stuck in the bird? If so, that may have killed it. If not, it likely died of something else.

Where are you located, that has so many bees flying?
B. Farmer Honey
Central Ohio
User avatar
Kens
Forum Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: February 27th, 2015, 8:28 pm
Location: 51*33'10"N 113*38'3"W

Re: Bees kill magpies??

Unread post by Kens »

I'm in Alberta, we have 12 days or so in january above freezing and some daytime highs were close to 50F! Bees are out stretching their legs and heeding the calls of nature.

The magpie was very well feathered and appeared to be in good condition. Nochance it was stung on the body through that feather cover. Tongue was not swollen, it had been laying there awhile, crop and intestinal tract were well rotted so no contents were identifiable.

Just one of those freak coincidences I guess.
Post Reply