Magpies used 1,500 metal spikes to build nest.

Researchers from Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the Natural History Museum Rotterdam have published a study on birds nests made from anti-bird spikes. They describe the behaviour as ‘an ultimate adaption to life in the city’.

The study follows the discovery of a large nest in Antwerp that was spotted high up in a tree in a hospital courtyard. On investigation, the magpie nest was made from up to 1,500 metal spikes taken from at least 50 meters of anti-bird pins, which researchers say the birds had used to keep other birds away from their nest.

Co-author of the study Auke-Florian Hiemstra, from Naturalis Biodiversity Center, said: "It's like a joke, really.

"Even for me as a nest researcher, these are the craziest bird nests I've ever seen.

“The magpies appear to be using the pins exactly the same way we do: to keep other birds away from their nest.”

Nests made from anti-bird spikes have also been found in the Netherlands, Belgium and Scotland. Crow's nests made of anti-bird spikes have currently only be found in the Netherlands.

Kees Moeliker, director of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam and co-author of the study, said: "Just when you think you've seen it all after half a century of studying natural history, these inventive crows and magpies really surprise me again.”

This is not the first case of birds nests made from man-made, even sharp materials. In 1933 there was a report of a crow’s nest made of barbed wire. More recent reports have revealed the use of nails, screws, and drug users’ syringes in avian architecture. 

The large magpie nest is now on display in the LiveScience room of Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands. The crow’s nest of anti-bird pins can be seen at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam.

The study has been published in the scientific journal Deinsea.

Auke-Florian Hiemstra – photo credit © Alexander Schippers