I didn't know that birds played! I've just been watching the three baby Magpies I feed every morning and they were lying on their backs in the sun and cheekily pecking and scratching each other. One ran off with a small white feather in its beak; a kind of trophy of the engagement. Now they're mesmerised by something in a hole in a tree stump in the garden and are taking turns hopping on and off the top of it. Both their parents who come within inches of me when I'm throwing bread each morning, flew away about half an hour ago to leave their offspring to their own devices. My little Magpie visitors have finally found their voices and were warbling together so happily on this very Spring-like day.
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Sunday, November 7, 2010
Magpies playing
I didn't know that birds played! I've just been watching the three baby Magpies I feed every morning and they were lying on their backs in the sun and cheekily pecking and scratching each other. One ran off with a small white feather in its beak; a kind of trophy of the engagement. Now they're mesmerised by something in a hole in a tree stump in the garden and are taking turns hopping on and off the top of it. Both their parents who come within inches of me when I'm throwing bread each morning, flew away about half an hour ago to leave their offspring to their own devices. My little Magpie visitors have finally found their voices and were warbling together so happily on this very Spring-like day.
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Please stop feeding the birds bread and read the link below. Feeding them bread creates deformities and can basically lead to a slow and painful death, as the lack of calcium means their legs break, and they will ultimately need to be euthanised. They are insectivores and do not need you!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bread-causing-magpie-birth-defects/story-e6frea83-1225779993697
Firstly, thank you for your valuable comment and contribution - you are obviously a bird lover. I had already decided to stop feeding the Magpies, only because it is probably better if they begin now to fend solely for themselves. But rest assured that the bread that I've been feeding them is rich with seeds and grain and calcium enriched. You can see from the photos that these three baby Magpies are complete, happy and healthy in every way. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a GREAT photo! thanks for the narrative too. Magpies are such a joy!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you enjoyed the photo. I still feed the Magpies every day.
ReplyDeleteWe too have magpie that lay on their backs in the grass and soak in the sun.
ReplyDeleteFYI, Magpies eat anything and everything so I'm sure you aren't doing any harm.
Beautiful! We recently were caring for a maggie, who'd been pegged by a car, sadly she died. Though she was wonderful company and would lie on our tummies-GREAT FUN. It's good to see that these ones are happy and playful :D, even though it was so long ago. (2012 now 2018)
ReplyDeleteBless them as they are such little joys!