Yeah... it is a nasty world for the lit'luns. IU wouild much rather have these little creatures than magpies around the lotty because the magpies fo not hunt and eat the little worms and caterpillers like these small birds do. They go over the trees and plants so thoroughly. The Robins or 'blackbirds' and Thrushes diminish the slug and snail populations remarkably well. They all do their job so well, but it's never enough to do more than make a dent in the pests' overall population.