Magpie woes

[rogespeed]

Read that there has been a fatality indirectly involving a Magpie bird 

A terrible event

Some have wondered what can be done

I am used to observing magpies in my residential surrounds during the  time during nesting 

A woodland immediately opposite , yearly magpie nestings

Yet no magpie swooping attacks

It would seem aggressive behaviour is because of protecting young , but they are very high in the trees

So to me seems more likely is the bird protecting it's ground based food source being compromised by an intruder that is potentially scaring away food items , with such reactions more aggressive during times of a high emotional need to keep the young fed

Why I suspect is because I share my bounty by tossing a few morsels of mince to the local magpie birds when they  visit the garden , actually during nesting time , and i have never been bothered by being swooped.

So maybe the presence of this human animal is not considered a food source threat 

I have walked through other woodlands where the birds are not fed  snacks and the experience is not pleasant 

So the solution maybe found in interested birders before and during nesting times to avail themselves to walk the local woodlands and offer resident magpies morsels of mince meat , snacks not whole meals, and so maybe if i am correct during nesting time a happy co-existence may continue - as they have good memories 

The intruding human animals are no longer food source threats 

I have not double - blind tested this , is just my observation in my immediate locality 

Other viewers observations are welcome 

[shoppingbag*]

On the flip side I have heard of people being swooped by the very magpies they fed.  In the old days the Police used to shoot the aggressive ones that endangered people,  however in those days human safety was a priority.

[rogespeed]

Liquidation is still  standard  procedure by those aggrieved who are in power and influence and has a  fine tradition and not only for swooping - to noisey ( understandable at times)  and depending upon the community sentiments ,  being out of place , in to many numbers, being feed by people , just happily existing

The presence of wild creatures can really psych out some personality types

An interesting book is Eric Roll's " They All Went Wild " on the subject of history of solutions to wild animal questions and post colonial attitudes , that cascades down the generations in some manner , although fortunately popular attitudes are changing to more accommodating resolutions

[tasfleur]

I have to say that I really love magpies.  Their ability to sing and reproduce all kinds of sounds they hear is astonishing and beautiful.

We have four that are always around our area and they just stay where they are on the lawn and don't fly away when I walk past them.  I talk quietly to them and they seem to be used to me and they even come towards me at times "chatting" away.

There is a YouTube channel called "The Magpie Whisperer" .. it's wonderful to see.

Thank you for posting this thread Rogespeed, much appreciated xx

[chameleon54]

I read somewhere that magpies can distinguish and remember different people. This seems reasonable, just the same as cats, dogs, sheep and pet birds all identify people they know and trust.

That being the case, if you feed your local magpies, they probably consider you one of the good guys, but might still swoop the next person to come along. All up, a very sad event with no easy answers.

[shoppingbag*]

Logic should sometimes prevail over simplistic idealistic attitudes that every single creature that threatens a  human life should be protected,  but humans do not deserve any protection at all.  The world is full of theorists who have never encountered the things they theorize about but are simply do-gooders who never do any good.

[tasfleur]

We make a point not to feed the magpies or any other animal unless it is with something that it eats within its own environment.  Sometimes,  I will buy a small bag of mealworms for the magpies, but not let them get dependent on that happening.

With the swooping, I think we just have to live with it and understand that is the way of those birds in particular.  I feel so sad for the mother, and I don't know what the answer is either, but in my opinion,  answers should not include vengeance killing of magpies.

[rogespeed]

In a perfect world in which we as an encroaching life-form have not disrupted the natural environment i would agree with the sentiment of not providing in a token manner for wild creatures that visit the residence and surrounds but as we are disruptive I feel some goodwill is justified without compromising natural wild lifestyle 

Maybe just a birdbath provided in scorching summer , a seed bundle or a few meat morsels during nesting season , planting of flowering nector shrubs .

One may not have the interest , but for those that avail themselves , they should not be censured