G'day Geoff and Heather

Isn't is lovely to have Magpies visit? I've been in this house for
almost 14 years and the same pair have been coming back all that time.
I know it's the same pair because he has an injured foot (old injury)
but they are so placid and never chase any other birds away, although my
neighbour across the road tells me the 'magpie boundary' must be near
his house and he often sees them in airborne fights with other maggies.
Suppose we'd be the same if someone else came into our houses too?

There is a path leading to the local school and these Magpies don't even
swoop on the kids during nesting season, so it goes to show they respond
to how they've been treated in the past.

Many years ago when my kids were young and while living in another
house, the magpies who nested in a huge tree near the house used to
allow the kids to 'babysit' the nestlings over the weekend. Then late
on Sunday arvo the nestlings would be returned to Ma and Pa who would
take over their duties for the rest of the week. Next weekend, the kids
would be babysitting again...mostly taking the nestlings to the dam and
digging up worms to feed them. The parents didn't even look sideways
because I feel they knew their babies were being well cared for.

No currawongs here either...noticed a Roller (Dollarbird) sitting in the
fence yesterday, had heard it a few days ago.

Bronwyn ;-)

Geoff & Heather wrote:
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
m...

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