Dienstag, 26. Juni 2007
"The Birds" - Again.
Feeding an Australian MagpieWe went to see my mother, Alice, at her new place in a luxury retirement village. It has pools, cinemas, bowling-greens, beauticians and a restaurant/ bar. I hope they tighten the security though, she still seems to be able to leave quite easily!It is built on the site of an historic convict mutiny. I hope it doesn’t give her ideas. While we were there, I made friends with the handsome fellow you see above. There is a pair of them nesting nearby, and they’re very hungry. They are so bold they will come in through her patio door, looking for food.Alice lives next door to her sister and her husband, my father’s brother (which makes three of my cousins, genetically, more like siblings). She seems very happy there.
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13 Kommentare:
oh wow bill! it's a long time since i hand fed a magpie. :-)
When we raised the three babies last year, they would listen until they worked out which end of the house we were in and then they'd go to the front fence or to the tree in the backyard where they would put on an extraordinary choral concert until they were rewarded. After they had eaten we would be treated to a thank-you concert. I remember an English migrant complaining on the radio that Australian birds had no song, just harsh cries. The silly old boot must have been walking around with a plastic bag over her head.
Your mom's sister married your dad's brother? WOW! Now that's a story I'd love to hear!Magpies are pretty! Australian birds are just fabulous!
you raised three babies? that is so sweet. do they come and visit ever?
Lovely shot!
oooh, I've just made it my new wallpaper. I love magpies, crows and ravens!
They kept coming until we decided they were becoming too dependent (and pushy). They grew up, moved away, had kids. You know.
Last night I wrote a lengthy reply and then the damned computer crashed...AUGHHHH! I will do an lj post on this topic later, just for you.
Ta!
We have ravens in the gumtree near the backyard. Thay are Australian Little Ravens. The other birds give them such a hard time.
Thanks!
Yesterday, the magpies image took a battering. You may know that thay can be very aggressive during the nesting season, They will swoop and peck with their strong beaks. children often have to wear protective plastic ice-cream-tubs on their heads if their playground has a nesting pair.Well, a few days ago an elderly man was swooped and unfortunately was injured in the eye. He had a pre-existing heart problem, and died a couple of days ago. I don't think the offending bird will be punished, people pretty much see it as just doing what comes naturally. Sharks are not often hunted after attacks either.The best way to deal with magpies seems to be to bribe them with food for the kids. They soon learn to see you as an asset rather than a liability. They are very clever.
We don't have many magpies where I live but they seem fascinating. We have lots of crows, which generally hop around, eat a lot, fly and make fun noises. I've always liked crows because they're clever and funny. I also just read a really fantastic book in which crows played a good role (quasi-henchment of the trickster deity). Ravens show up in Alice in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter's question: why is a raven like a writing desk? Oh and I'm babbling again, sorry! Birds are just so neat! Did you see "Winged Migration"?
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