Cherry Thieves: Don't Just Blame the Robins

It’s that time in summer when people with fruit trees, particularly those with cherry trees, begin to think about protecting them from marauding birds. There is no doubt that American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and other fruit-loving birds can sometimes get more than their fair share of cherries if the trees aren’t covered with bird netting. However, don’t be too quick to blame these beautiful cherry thieves alone. Others may be involved.

I recently came home to look out my kitchen window at the little cherry tree by our fence only to see a Black-billed Magpie grabbing one ripe cherry right after another. Magpies are omnivorous, meaning they eat a wide variety of animal and plant food, including insects, carrion, eggs and young of other nesting birds, but also to a much lesser extent, seeds, nuts, and fruits.



Many people in Pullman don’t like magpies because of their loud calls, particularly early in the morning and especially in summer when the newly fledged young are following parents around and begging them loudly or food. However, except for when they wake me up, I find them quite interesting because of their social behavior and high intelligence.

Magpies are well known for stashing or hiding food so that they may recover it for later use when they are hungry, generally in a few days. So if you throw out some scraps of bread or other food to watch them feed in your yard, you may see some well-fed birds carry food off for a little ways and stuff it under grass or leaves.

But anyway, don’t always blame the robins or waxwings for your disappearing cherries. They certainly take their share. But in Pullman, there are plenty of crafty fruit thieves at work. However, bird netting is cheap, easy to drape over smaller trees, and is effective in preventing birds from getting all of your fruit.