Wild Australian magpies are inquisitive, wise, friendly, and fun to interact with. Like most creatures, they are usually respectful to you, if you are respectful of them.
But, they do swoop!
Swooping means they attack humans, other animals, cars, etc., causing about a thousand human injuries in Australia each spring. See:
https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/how-survive-magpie-swooping-season
They swoop if they perceive their nestlings are in danger….
or maybe, if they are having an irritating day.
Like all corvids, they have excellent memories and hold grudges, so if you bothered a corvid in the past, you better steer clear during swooping season, or else be ready to duck down really fast!
Cheers to you from Australia’s marvelous-memoried, moody-magpies~
You are back in my reader. Yeah π
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Double yay! Wouldn’t want to lose track of you. α
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The eyes go with the beak I say.π Both are scary.
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Yes. Imagine how scary we appear to them! α
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I’m sure we do.π
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It looks gorgeous but threatening!
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It can be threatening so it need respect and space α
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I believe, itβs common rule for everybody to follow – respect and space, in humane society as well.
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Exactly α
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I just read that crows have memories and reasoning power which add to their ability to communicate within a community. I have a feeling that this extends to all of our winged friends including magpies, robins, bluejays, woodpeckers. We really donβt have a full understanding of how advanced they are. We share this earth with amazing creatures. Another wonderful post that celebrates our world. Hugs
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Yes we do share this planet with amazing creatures. Birds that cache food like woodpeckers and nuthatches can remember 1000’s of hiding places. Birds are being studied for their awareness of “sense of self in relationship to the world around them.” I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to learn they are more aware than humans! So many other aspects of bird sentience are finally being studied. Bird brains are brilliant brains. α
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Well said!
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Hey Cindy!
I have a new site for those who want to buy ethical products on a budget. Please check it out if you get a chance!
Thanks!
James
https://ethicalbargains.org/
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Love this up-close look at the magpie!
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So pleased you do & thank you for letting me know α
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Wonderful capture Cyndi!
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Grazie mille α
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Cindy your photo’s are amazing and so very inspirational. i had a look at all of them, Yes they will inspire many photographers.
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I am so honored and touched by your thoughtful comment. Thank you very much & cheers to you α
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Les corvidΓ©s sont des volatiles fascinants.
DouΓ©s d’un langage Γ©laborΓ© et variΓ©.
Γtres fascinants que cet article valorise Γ merveille
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Oui! Ce sont des oiseaux trΓ¨s intelligents avec d’excellents souvenirs et ils aiment les gens qui sont gentils avec eux. Ils peuvent mΓͺme vous apporter des cadeaux! α
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I just saw some Magpies on an animal show…their brains are large in comparison to body size. I wish we had a few here in NJ. I wouldn’t want to be ‘swooped; though. Hmmm…for some reason this just gave me an idea for a blog post. Funny…
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I would love to live with magpies. If they like you, they often bring you gifts! α
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Oh dear! Bluejays swoop, too. But, I don’t know if they have a keen memory. Love the photos!
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They are intelligent and have excellent grammar! Remember Mark Twain, “There’s more to a bluejay than any other creature. He has got more moods, and more different kinds of feelings than other creatures; and mind you, whatever a bluejay feels, he can put into language. And no mere commonplace language, either, but rattling, out-and-out book talk – and bristling with metaphor, too – just bristling! And as for command of language – why you never see a bluejay get stuck for a word. No man ever did. They just boil out of him! And another thing: I’ve noticed a good deal, and there’s no bird, or cow, or anything that uses as good grammar as a bluejay.” π π
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Cindy, I didnβt know Mark Twain said that. Thank you!
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He talked more than jays, about jays! π
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π
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I remembered that there was an animated cartoon series with magpies, but I couldnβt remember its name. Google just gave me the answer: Heckle And Jeckle.
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We named two birds at our rondavel in South Africa Heckle & Jeckle. They moved right in, shared in the meals and never cleaned up!! π
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I’m glad we don’t have swoopers here. 2020 has enough hurtful things going on!
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So true. We don’t need to be swooped right now α
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liebe Cindy, sei herzlichst gegrΓΌΓt vom Klaus von der MΓΌritz
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Sende GrΓΌΓe und hoffe, dass du in Sicherheit bist und mein Freund! α
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aaa, so lovely Cindy. And bit different from the Himalayan Magpie who carried aqua on her feathers. She looks actually friendly. Like she know you are there ! Beautiful her and your eye.
Narayan x
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Awww, such a thoughtful comment. Thank you Narayan. You are most appreciated and I love your blog and enjoy every visit to it! α
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Glowing red like beet root with such appreciation.
β€οΈ Cindy. Thank you
Narayan
Narayan
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Gorgeous photos, Cindy. Love our Aussie Magpies.
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I love all your Aussie birdies! Lucky you α
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I didn’t know anything about these birds til I saw a youtube video about the juveniles playing: https://youtu.be/yJN5_1tfqXo It makes me smile every time I see it, but I do understand about how dangerous they must be when swooping. Reminds me of how I am wary while wearing my hat in the summer in our garden (yard) in case there’s a Red Kite flying overhead that might take a fancy to it – and then to my head!
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Yes. My physician was swooped twice by hawks and injured badly each time. It made the national news. He walked underneath their nest on his property. I get why he did it the first time. Not so sure about the second time. Now he hates hawks. I just suggested not walking under their nest….
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Good advice.
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amazing post !!!
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hi , so nice to meet you ?
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