Magpies behaving badly
Australian Magpie
It is now spring here in Australia. This usually means frenetic breeding activities in our bird life. Up until now I have noticed very little activity around here, which is unusual.
Reasons for this could be:
- A very cold and dry winter.
- Little food because of the drought conditions.
- I haven’t been looking carefully enough.
Whatever the reason, one very obvious sign of the breeding season is the activities of the Australian Magpie. I guess most Australians have experienced an attack from a male Magpie during breeding season. They can very aggressively defend their nest from all interlopers on their territory. And it can be painful; a peck on the scalp from an aggressive Magpie can draw copious amounts of blood, as my wife and sister-in-law can confirm.
An interesting article called “Magpies Behaving Badly” can be found on the ABC Science Online site here.
I am so pleased that our resident breeding pair of magpies do not swoop us. They let us move about the garden without any harassment. In fact, in 22 years of living here, I have only been swooped once, and that was my own fault. I tried to imitate the call of the male. I must have used a few magpie swear words!
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September 19th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
[…] Magpies Behaving Badly […]
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 am
That’s a good one about the magpie swear words Trevor! My hubby does a great magpie call, it amazes me every time he does it. I was swooped for the first time last week (by the very same adult whose baby I saved the other morning from the cat). My kids and their cousins used to deliberately run the gauntlet across a farm yard at their grandparents dairy farm. That poor magpie was worn out chasing 6 kids. He actually connected with my son Ryan who wore his pecked and bleeding head like a badge of courage.
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
My wife often tells the story of how her sister was struck on the head as a child. Bled like the proverbial stuck pig she says. Gave her the fright of her life as well.
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
One additional comment - I’d love to hear your husband’s magpie call. I do a very good kookaburra call - I used to amaze the children in my class with it (it another life I was a teacher for 35 years). Friends and family just indulge me - tolerate me - whatever. I try not to do it too often.
Hasn’t had the effect of bringing kookaburras to live permanently in our garden though.