Magpies are Australian icons, sweetly singing characters that are revered by some and feared by others.
This bold fellow largely ignored me as he was shopping for his family, except for the brief look in my direction that I captured in the image above. The lighting conditions were abysmal and the image is noisy, but his direct look and the hapless critters made it worth pressing the shutter button.
Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) – juvenile
Magpies are breeding at the moment and the insistent call of the hungry fledglings can be heard from dawn to dusk in and around the paddocks. Some magpies swoop at pedestrians and cyclists, for more information on this and on ways to help keep safe during the swooping season you could check this post: Maggies
I’ve just come home from a perfect trip to Neds Corner that I’ll share as soon as I can.
Happy birding
Kim
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they are a trouble to me on my bike but i just leave them to their space and go elsewhere in the nesting season – love their calls and their cheek. Funny photo, thanks for sharing Kim
I’ve just left a note on Gary’s comment about a bike rider who was swooped when riding their bike but not when they walked – I guess you’d have to be feeling pretty brave to try it! Riding elsewhere sounds like a much more sensible plan 🙂
Wow! Love the first shot that’s amazing!
Isn’t it great we don’t have to feed our bubs that way!
I love them. And their song signifies home to me.
Yes I have been swooped, but protective parents do that…
I hope you weren’t injured EC. I’ve always admired how bravely many bird species defend their nests, like when tiny wagtails hassle raptors.
I have never been swooped even when I have pushed my luck. Do you think they are like dogs ( I have often been told by people with dogs that they have taken to me better than usual) and can smell fear or read people differently?
That’s an interesting thought Gary. The studies I read suggested the few magpies that swoop remember people who’ve upset them and focus on those people, or people who look like them but I think your idea would be worth some research. There’s a site that shows where swooping magpies live: http://www.magpiealert.com/All-Australia-Magpie-Map.php If you’ve been in one of those areas and stayed safe it’d support your hypothesis 🙂
PS I’ve just read some of the reports on the site and one person mentions being swooped when they were riding their bike but safe when they walked their bike and removed their helmet;I guess the rider no longer looked like whoever had bothered them. It’s fascinating.
We love to have them around here.
Me too Peter, they’ve got such a beaut call to hear in the mornings.