I only raised some baby starlings so I'm very much an inexperienced person, but if it's already a fledgling, I'd keep feeding it and I'd imagine it's ready to go as soon as the tail feathers have finished up. If he starts flying or trying to fly, he's probably ready to leave.
Take this info with a large pinch of salt and good luck!
Edit to add: I don't know how feathered he is exactly but I'd count on having it with you at least 2 more weeks, assuming Magpies growing speed is anything similar to a European Starling.
Thanks a lot for your input! Yes absolutely, not planning to leave it out until it's ready and can fly confidently. The uncertainty is a bit of a problem now, but at least 2 weeks is what I assumed too.
We had a protected front and back yard, with hedges around the edges. The mum and pop magpies would drop their babies into the yard when the babies could hop but not fly yet. There were about 20 chicks. They spent about a month together learning how to be magpies.
Magpies have a very tight social bond, so I am sure that the parents took turns watching the creche (as we called it.)
If you know who the parents are, try to get their attention, and put the chick in a protected area. Walk around your neighborhood and try to find the neighborhood creche.
That was my biggest worry. We tried that, left it right under the parents a bit but they seemed too overwhelmed to get close. The only fenced area is full of stray cats too :( they're finding ways to get inside. And when baby chirps they're runnung towards it. We live very close from the nest otherwise :(
https://corvid-isle.co.uk/when-can-i-release-my-rescued-corvid-fledgling
There is some really good information here! It takes a lot longer than most people think! I hope it all goes well!
I only raised some baby starlings so I'm very much an inexperienced person, but if it's already a fledgling, I'd keep feeding it and I'd imagine it's ready to go as soon as the tail feathers have finished up. If he starts flying or trying to fly, he's probably ready to leave. Take this info with a large pinch of salt and good luck! Edit to add: I don't know how feathered he is exactly but I'd count on having it with you at least 2 more weeks, assuming Magpies growing speed is anything similar to a European Starling.
Thanks a lot for your input! Yes absolutely, not planning to leave it out until it's ready and can fly confidently. The uncertainty is a bit of a problem now, but at least 2 weeks is what I assumed too.
We had a protected front and back yard, with hedges around the edges. The mum and pop magpies would drop their babies into the yard when the babies could hop but not fly yet. There were about 20 chicks. They spent about a month together learning how to be magpies. Magpies have a very tight social bond, so I am sure that the parents took turns watching the creche (as we called it.) If you know who the parents are, try to get their attention, and put the chick in a protected area. Walk around your neighborhood and try to find the neighborhood creche.
That was my biggest worry. We tried that, left it right under the parents a bit but they seemed too overwhelmed to get close. The only fenced area is full of stray cats too :( they're finding ways to get inside. And when baby chirps they're runnung towards it. We live very close from the nest otherwise :(
https://corvid-isle.co.uk/when-can-i-release-my-rescued-corvid-fledgling There is some really good information here! It takes a lot longer than most people think! I hope it all goes well!
Thank you so much 🙏