1. Curiosity and Territorial Behavior: Magpies are curious birds and have strong territorial instincts. They might still fly around your garden out of curiosity or to investigate the area where the incident occurred. It doesn't necessarily mean they are targeting you or your cat specifically.
2. Mating and Nesting: Magpies mate for life and usually nest in the same general area year after year. If there is a suitable habitat in your garden, such as trees or bushes, they might still be around for nesting purposes.
3. Fledglings: Sometimes, a pair of magpies may produce multiple broods in a single season. If there are fledglings in the vicinity, the parent birds might continue to fly around your garden as part of their care and feeding routine.
4. Learning Experience: Magpies are known to be intelligent birds. After the initial incident, they may have learned to be more cautious around your cat or to avoid certain areas of your garden. However, it doesn't mean they will completely abandon the area.
5. Natural Variation: Magpie populations can vary from season to season and even from day to day. It's possible that the presence or absence of magpies in your garden might fluctuate naturally, unrelated to the incident with your cat.
To prevent future incidents and maintain a harmonious relationship with local wildlife, it's advisable to take steps to deter your cat from hunting birds and to keep an eye on your garden when your cat is outdoors. You could also consider making your garden less attractive to magpies, such as removing any accessible food sources or covering compost heaps, which can attract their attention.