Magpies have an undeserved bad name just because they have ongoing border
disputes amongst themselves and get entertainment from swooping on people
who react well (notice how they don't swoop on everyone ??).
I've just done a count - there are 32 native species that visit our yard -
some transients, some permanent residents, and I've never seen magpies
chasing any of them. Occasionally they might harass a passing hawk, but
that is usually in concert with other birds. The worst ones we have for
chasing others are the Piwis (Mudlarks) and Willy Wagtails - especially when
they are nesting.

Fortunately the currawongs don't make it to our place.

Geoff



"FlowerGirl" wrote in message
...

"Basil Chupin" wrote in message
...
FlowerGirl wrote:
wrote in message
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After some 7 years of visiting 2/3 times a day, rearing yourg ones our
parent magpies have just stopped coming and have not bee seen now for
a week.

In suburbia.

Is the something that "just happens"?

Yeah - different food available and the young ones should be grown a
bit
by
now so lesser need for free handouts.
If they have gone its not a necessarily bad sign ... they're very good
at
living with humans and tend to chase other bird species away. Generally
...
here in Brisbane anyway ... you tend to have magpies, noisy miners and
butcher birds co-habiting, but they'll all gang up on kookas,
kingfishers
and other native birds.
The birders around here tend to regard them almost like ferals.
Amanda

Are you really talking about magpies or the (Pied) Currawong?

Currawongs will displace the magpie and try and take over their nests
if given the chance and, unlike the magpie, they travel in groups and
'attack' in groups. The only time I have seen a magpie attack anything
is when it is protecting its territory during the breeding season.


Yes magpies. We don't have currawongs here.
Actually magpies, butcher birds and noisy miners are probably the worst
urban native birds at displacing other native species.
Amanda