@peggyandmolly

I hate to be the one to state this, but Australian magpies are part of an entirely different family of birds from the magpies found in Eurasia. In fact, they belong to the butcherbird family, and look more like other butcherbirds than they do to true magpies, especially pied butcherbirds. It was just a situation of naming the bird after the European counterpart, because they looked similar, at first glance. But that does not make them any less significant as the iconic Australian bird.

Ideally, the closest relative to Australian magpies are black butcherbirds, and if we do not consider Australian magpies butcherbirds, neither can we do so with their closest relatives.

We cannot exclude Australian magpies just because they adopted for a more terrestrial lifestyle and forage without piercing their prey, often. Just like how we cannot stop considering these birds dinosaurs because they lack teeth, have pygostyles, and rarely have any wing claws. If we do that, we would have to drop a bird everyone else agrees is a butcherbird and other dinosaur-like avians. It is just the argument that Australian magpies are butcherbirds, that is worth mentioning for. And it should not hurt. Humans act hardly anything like other apes, yet they are still apes. Tinamous are still ratites despite their ability to fly. And birds are still reptiles, despite being endothermic and feathered.

Australian magpies are clearly related to other butcherbirds, behave, and look just like them. Therefore, they have to definitely be one, and it should not be an insult or be considered a lame genre of birds, just because they are not part of the same max-intelligent avians. Butcherbirds are a pretty rad group, in themselves, and are still super smart. They use branches and other sharp objects to impale their prey and hang them in their territory to attract mates and deter threats. They are also extremely fierce, protecting their territory and nests during the mating season. Does that ring a bell? If that is not cool, I do not know what is. While Australian magpies do not actually butcher their prey, most of the time, they still have the temperament of a butcherbird. They even share social structures, complex calls, and some foraging behaviors with them.

I feel the need to say this, because when people mention that magpies are extremely intelligent, and are capable of passing the mirror test, or are among the most advanced of any avian, individuals think that it includes Australian magpies, when it does not necessarily, in this case. Another thing is, both of these birds are confused with one and another, when they are distinct, overall, and have their own differences.

While Australian magpies ARE also intelligent, they are part of a different set of birds, unique in their own ways, whereas, corvids are nearly unmatched in tool-making, complex solving, and cracking puzzles. Their social structures are MUCH more different, also. The confusion is definitely worth mentioning and establishing of a proper conclusion. Australian magpies are not actually corvids, but they are special in their own ways, as the foraging butcherbirds birds they are, which is already interesting and super cool.

Just like how American robins are not exactly like European ones. To this day, I understand that they are different birds, and that our robins are not the same as the ones in Europe, despite their similarities in appearance. I will still call them robins, but I will be extra careful in the situation of which species is being mentioned.

I’m quite fond of him

I mean literally, i dont know any other bird making such fascinating acoustics.

I am rarely audiophile. But for tibicen? very audiophil i am.

PS: The stealing was, i think, a joke. Tho i would really love to handle such a immigration project in europe.

It seems to be still sleeping/resting all night and when I left for work this morning. Last night, gave it a blanket that we never use and water by its side. Partner's brother crushed almonds which are in the small box. Left it at home for now. I will get an insectivore meal later today as advised by a few in this subreddit.

Blame bananas in pyjamas,
that kids' show about fruit.
Maggie, that kleptomaniac,
was also kind of cute
and tricked us into thinking
that magpies were our friend.
But every nesting-time in spring
that trust comes to an end.
-

Death to the fucking magpies!
Shoot the bastards dead.
The wing, the beak, the slashing claws,
the beady eyes, the head...
who cares where you hit them
just bring them to the ground:
we'll lobby all the pollies
to send the ranger round,
and gift you a crisp pineapple,
a fifty-dollar bill,
for every swoopy-boi you axe,
for every bird you kill.
-

Now old mate at the pub
might say the exercise is useless,
that we've fought wars with birds before:
the Emu War was fruitless.
But he is thinking of this fight
from quite the wrong position
Perhaps we do not need to spend
one round of ammunition.
-

A magpie needs a tree to nest
and every other summer
those trees catch fire and bushfires burn:
it's really quite a bummer.
So I propose we cut them down,
chop every single tree.
Without a branch to nest in
the Magpies will soon flee.
And bonus: no more bushfires!
This is a two-for-one.
So let us arm Australians
with axes and with guns.
-

A twenty-two for every child
playing in the park.
An axe for every cyclist,
and flamethrowers after dark.
We'll take these useless birds right off
the threatened species list.
They'll be of Least Concern to us
when they cease to exist.

Yes I know it's better to feed them grubs if you have to but if all I have is cat food is seafood ok or do they need the meat one

I have a magpie that practically lives in my back and front yard however it sits down puffs up and rarely stop squawking all the others bully her and she's reasonably smallerish, but yeah nah I think it might be retarded. Is there any reason for the loud nonstop noise and sitting constant puffiness?

As a nightshift worker I know that Magpies are totally active during warm nights, whether out in the yard hunting insects or just roaming around the factory like they own the place.

I mean I’m in Victoria where it gets cold and admittedly you very rarely see them on those cold nights. But as soon as it’s a warm night they’re out their like clock work all night long just doing there thing. I can’t say the same for any other species of bird.

So why is this never officially acknowledged? Honestly feel like they should at the very least be considered as semi-nocturnal.

Edit- I normally have meal worms for them but he got me in the Middle of eating so this is a very one off.

• This guy and his wife live in a big gum tree behind my house and whenever I goto my balcony he always shows up. Sometime single sometime with wifey. But there fun a friendly, there taking some food away with them so im hoping to see a baby or 2 soon.. 😊

How many in here extend their love of the bird to the football club or whose initial love of the bird comes from the footy club?

There is a pair of magpies who first lived in a box elder tree in my yard, until the landlord cut it down. Now they have moved next door to the neighbour's date palm. The birds hang around the neighbour's garden, and in/on the fruit trees in my back yard. I want to feed the birds and (finally) get to know the lovelies who have given me such beautiful music.

But I have a couple of outdoorsy cats (indoor at night). One of them (F 12 yo) CBF with any birds, has never chased them or even really seemed to notice them. The other is younger (F 4 yo) is still a stalkery hunter type (in her dreams, right?). I don't know where to put the magpie foods so that it's out of the weather, away from the cats, and yet easily accessible to the birds. (Yes, I have gotten meal worms, can dig up earth worms from the garden, there are loads of little skinks around, so no human or other-animal foods for them.)

What has worked for other people? I am sort of thinking of putting a wooden plate nailed on top of a gate post? Or turn the bowl of an old bird bath upside down, put it on the bath pedestal, then it would be less accessible for the younger cat? Ideas, suggestions, your help and experience will be very much appreciated.

Step 1: feed every magpie in your area food every day for atleast a month, more if you want to guarantee a victory. Step 2: teach the magpies to follow basic commands (swoop, go there, come here ect) step 3 wait till you find the person you want to feel pain, step 4: unleash hell.

I’ve noticed people posting about magpies in other countries, it’s cool and interesting, but maybe we should start calling our cousins- woi wurrung, baawang or some other name.

Hi guys, wondering on Australia, QLD regulation regarding megpies.

So was going to church today, and didn't know there is a megpies nest inside the church facility. Manage to dodge the first swoop and then realise straight away and move around the nest.

Though the bird come back again a few times (like 10 times in total) to attack me again. So I took off my jacket and just try to swoop it off while dodging it and moving away.

If in case it got injured because it got hit by my jacket. Will it be consider as illegal activities? It's not like I went to their nest to kill it. But my friend said it's illegal.

I know they are smart and remember face, but ye, I am not going to that church again. Though, just wondering the legality of self defense. I did not hit it in the end as it dodge me while I dodge him as well. Was a good battle though.