A friend for life...... I hope!
I've got myself a new mate.The only child of our local magpie couple has finally been evicted from the family. Yep.... it's one of those harsh realities of nature; out with the old and in with the new. There's going to be some new ones on the way soon and preparations are already under way.
So like every other magpie I've ever encountered I call it Mags. Won't know if it's a boy or a girl until it matures a bit more and thickens out...... and that can take a couple of years.
It's amazing how fast they learn and adapt. Only a month ago Mags was such a shy, timid thing who kept a yard or two behind the parents as they gobbled the mincemeat from my hand. Now I've got my new friend doing the same.... only now its earthworms, cockchafers or any creepy crawly I can find in a hurry.
Now I know Mags is more than capable of finding it's own tucker but I just can't help myself.
Perhaps I'm trying to form a bond.... and the bird sees me as a sucker who provides the meals. But I don't care.
And it may well come in handy if Mags is indeed a male and not far down the track he has his own family to support. Because when the time comes when he has to protect the newly arrived and defend his territory...... I hope he remembers me!
Yes..... that time of the year is fast approaching. Now I must say that the physical aspect of magpie attacks have never really bothered me..... it's just the fact that for some reason I'm a prime target. I've been on golf courses where there's been 50 players within a swooper's territory; and it's not amusing when 49 of them are falling about laughing while I'm trying to concentrate on my approach shot with a mad bird trying to knock me head off!
Even the placid bird down the road turns against me. Kids are happily walking to school, people are walking their dogs, going for a jog or enjoying a bit of gardening....... but that black and white missile has eyes for only me. Even the cyclists are laughing. I don't really want to drive the whole 400 metres to the shop to get my newspaper.
And I don't want to sound like I'm getting a tad paranoid but........
I've gotta go....... have to find some worms for my new mate.
Comments (57)
You are spreading rumors...
Be careful, my boyfriends may bring you some troubles... They do not have guns, but they know Chinese Gongfu.
Thanks.
your boyfriends????
Isn't the sound of crooning magpies that most magnificient song? I love it. Sadly, nature takes it's course as I have discovered on many occassions. I love the warbling sound as the maggies serenade outside my bedroom window, but then I am filled with sadenss as they attack the weakest and defenceless newbie amongst them. Last year I found a little maggie, scrawny in appearance, sitting on a branch and looking very forlorn. I went up to it and realised it wasn't well. A lovely lady in our local community took it into her care and discovered it was blind. I guess the parents knew and had left it to survive the elements. This little maggie now lives a happy and fulfilled life in a sanctuary. Nature is pretty swift in its decisions.....it's us sensitive souls that have to wrestle with it.
Here's to constant warbling from your maggies,
Shambellina
but .now after i killed all ur lovers ,u have no excuse,but being on his side faithfull and monogamous i hope.
heard what alf said ??? (:
I know what ya mean about the sound of the magpies at the crack of dawn. Here on the coast we don't get them anywhere near in abundance as where I lived in Canberra (which probably has a most diverse and high density bird population as anywhere in the country).
And they knew where my bedroom was as well..... even tapped their beaks on the window to get me out of bed to feed them.
Throw in the kookaburras and blackbirds and ya have a nice little orchestra performing for you in the morning.
I hope you are doing great!!!