A version of Rod Stewart’s Maggie May has been playing out in a Wonthaggi street. Just as things were going well, a human blundered onto the scene.
By Peejay
Photos: Pauline Wilkinson
WHEN I came down from Sydney a couple of years ago, I left behind brushtail possums, ringtail possums, kookaburras, ravens, butcherbirds and a magpie family that visited me daily for their dose of human kindness. I lived on the edge of a national park, so I didn't have to go far to find my native friends ... they found me.
After a couple of months in Wonthaggi, I noticed four magpies in the area, two of each sex. As the breeding season began to arrive last year, two of them paired up and left the area. Their departure left a mature female and a juvenile male as the tenants for this region. The juvenile male was quite shy, still with his grey plumage.
The female wasn't all that impressed with her lot but she began to understand that he meant well so she let him hang around. Naturally, my need to interact with the wildlife kicked in and I was back buying heart-smart minced beef. Their preferred nesting tree is about five houses down the street but after a while Maggie – what else could you call her? – began to react to my waved arms and fly in with a majestic glide-and-swoop action. The Boy remained a bit coy and would wait until Maggie responded but he's getting much better.
A few weeks ago I noticed Maggie was collecting food instead of gobbling it down or storing it among the ground cover in my front yard. The Boy was acting as though life now had a purpose and he would swoop in without waiting for the nod and then rush back to the nest with his contribution.
During this last week, I've been hearing the baby's demanding calls from what I presume is their home, about five houses down the street. Today, the call came from my front yard. Then I heard the parents' alarm call. I rushed to the front yard and saw a neighbour across the road rush back inside. Their dog had attacked the baby magpie and, just to be certain of the result, the husband then set the dog onto the bird again.
I said my bit and now I'll say it again. I brought down three cats from Sydney as well as their cat run. Both the cats and wildlife are safe. Cats are natural-born hunters, dogs are taught habits. That dog has been taught to attack magpies. Magpies are a protected species. It is the breeding season. Unless you know your dog will not attack a magpie, or any other bird, keep it under control.
Hopefully, my magpie couple will lay another egg before the season is over.
RIP, little magpie.
Photos: Pauline Wilkinson
WHEN I came down from Sydney a couple of years ago, I left behind brushtail possums, ringtail possums, kookaburras, ravens, butcherbirds and a magpie family that visited me daily for their dose of human kindness. I lived on the edge of a national park, so I didn't have to go far to find my native friends ... they found me.
After a couple of months in Wonthaggi, I noticed four magpies in the area, two of each sex. As the breeding season began to arrive last year, two of them paired up and left the area. Their departure left a mature female and a juvenile male as the tenants for this region. The juvenile male was quite shy, still with his grey plumage.
The female wasn't all that impressed with her lot but she began to understand that he meant well so she let him hang around. Naturally, my need to interact with the wildlife kicked in and I was back buying heart-smart minced beef. Their preferred nesting tree is about five houses down the street but after a while Maggie – what else could you call her? – began to react to my waved arms and fly in with a majestic glide-and-swoop action. The Boy remained a bit coy and would wait until Maggie responded but he's getting much better.
A few weeks ago I noticed Maggie was collecting food instead of gobbling it down or storing it among the ground cover in my front yard. The Boy was acting as though life now had a purpose and he would swoop in without waiting for the nod and then rush back to the nest with his contribution.
During this last week, I've been hearing the baby's demanding calls from what I presume is their home, about five houses down the street. Today, the call came from my front yard. Then I heard the parents' alarm call. I rushed to the front yard and saw a neighbour across the road rush back inside. Their dog had attacked the baby magpie and, just to be certain of the result, the husband then set the dog onto the bird again.
I said my bit and now I'll say it again. I brought down three cats from Sydney as well as their cat run. Both the cats and wildlife are safe. Cats are natural-born hunters, dogs are taught habits. That dog has been taught to attack magpies. Magpies are a protected species. It is the breeding season. Unless you know your dog will not attack a magpie, or any other bird, keep it under control.
Hopefully, my magpie couple will lay another egg before the season is over.
RIP, little magpie.
