Baby Magpie learns to fly – sort of
Australian Magpie (juvenile)
Our resident family of Australian Magpies has been busy feeding two babies in the nest over recent weeks. The mother bird has been bringing tasty meals to the young ones who put up a great begging performance if she is too slow about it.
Meanwhile the male patrols the territory, seeing off any intruders – like the Brown Falcon who came visiting recently. (Details of that incident will follow tomorrow.)
Australian Magpie (juvenile)
Last week one of the babies decided to test out his wings. He left the nest – not at all gracefully and very hesitatingly. It was all downhill and into the wind until he came to the pear tree in the orchard, where he decided to cling to a branch for all he was worth.
I was watching this all happen from the verandah where we were having a well earned cuppa. I raced inside for the camera. Over the next five minutes I was able to carefully creep right up to about three metres away without disturbing the little fellow – still clinging desperately to the branch where he landed.
Australian Magpie
I quickly retreated, but not before mother bird came investigating to see if I was behaving myself. Soon she was happy to resume looking for the next tasty morsel to feed junior.
Later I was watching from the house. The baby had moved to another tree. He decided the fly down to where the mother bird was searching for food. The flight was okay – it was the landing that undid him. He landed on his face. Some techniques obviously need a little practice.
Related Articles:
Australian Magpie
[…] Yesterday I heard the unmistakable call of a baby magpie calling from the tall eucalypt tree next to the driveway. Sure enough, there was a newly fledged baby magpie all covered in downy feathers and constantly begging to be fed. UPDATE: I have just written a new articles, with photos, of the latest baby magpie in our garden. To read it, click here. […]
Landing is always the hard part 🙂
Yeah – I know – that is usually the only part of flying I don’t like.
Oh – and the cramped seats. And having to line for the toilet. And the food. And not being able to sleep. And the on board entertainment (sic). Did I mention the landing?
The only landing I enjoyed was the one at Lukla in the Himalayas. Read about it here
http://www.trevorstravels.com/landing-at-lukla-airport-nepal/
i have a young magpie in my backyard, unable to fly in arrived yesterday. his parent’s have been frequent dinner guests along with their other 2 offspring for about 2 years, fortunately i have never had one this young arrive on my door step. it runs around my backyard like an emu. the huge problem is that i have a dog and 3 cars. the cats are locked i at night and the dog is curious but isn’t really bothered by it. i phones a few experts and have received mixed responses. one said pout it in a box at night and release it at day the parent’s will look after it, the other said don’t touch it it will die if put in a box and the parent’s will protect it during the day from the cats. this morning i let the dog out for a wee, the parent’s instantly came down from tree to swoop the dog, the dog was not bothered and approached the baby for a sniff, it the parent’s are going to repeat this effort with the cats i am affraid they are going to lose their baby, i amn very stressed about it. i was thinking maybe l could put it over into the neighbors yard, they don’t have any pets and the parent’s will still find it there, any suggestions thanks karen
hi my name is zelala and i found a baby magpie in my back yard to its a very fluffy one and it can not fly. this morning the baby magpie was on the floor and gone i was so sad and i know it is gonE because the cat next door got it I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO should i blam the next door people or should i forget about it or should i barrie it in my back yard and put flowers on top WHAT SHOULD I DO ??? ): i am so sad ): ): ):
Hi, found a baby magpie. Would like to feed it, but what. Any suggestions would be great.
Hi there Gail – welcome to my birding blog.
I have written another article about baby magpies here
http://www.trevorsbirding.com/baby-magpie/
If you read through the comments you will find many suggestions from my readers about how to care for them.
Hi, We’ve been feeding a family of magpies for over a year with cheese which they are addicted to, They feed the baby, we were worried as the baby seems to have no tail feathers is this normal?
Hi there Sandra – welcome to my blog about birds. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment.
In my experience baby magpies (and many other species too) have little or very short tails. That’s why they have such poor navigation skills when they first leave the nest. It can be quite amusing to us observers – and very daunting for those L-plate flyers, no doubt. It would be like trying to fly a plane without a tail flap or tail rudders (is that what they are called??)
I rescued a baby magpie 3 weeks ago the poor bugger was caught in a fence by its wing and mum and dad were swooping me while i was removing him he couldnt walk and wing was very stretched and he was exhausted so i made the decision to bring bob home (assuming its a male?)and endevoured to look after him to the best of my ability. I spoke to a bird wildlife sanctuary here in perth and they were great his wing is healing nicely and is now flying all over our house after many hours of training and we take him outside everyday to hunt for bugs he still has his baby feathers on his chest and a short tail so I dont know if anyone would have any idea how old he may be and i am still feeding him a mix of raw mince calcium powder and insectivore mix but am starting to leave it in a dish for him to get himself and does anyone have any idea how long i have to keep feeding him for as he is very attached to us and does not leave our sides i am not sure if when he is older will go about finding his own feed outside as i am still feeding him every 2 hours (he is a piggy)
Hi there Ella – well done for rescuing ‘your’ magpie. Try not to feed him too much – obesity is a problem with pets – and try to get him searching for his own food. Perhaps scratch around in mulch or garden litter to show him where the bugs and beetles and other magpie delicacies are to be found.
I hope he learns how to forage for himself before flying off and regaining his freedom.
Been searching pictures of magpies and came across you site. I live in Edmonton, Canada. And last winter I had about 9 different magpies come to feed in my yard. They do have a pecking order, but I put out lots of food. Cat food worked. As the winter can be very cold -20 to -30 last winter. So I enjoyed watching the birds feed. My cats also got something out of watching as well. We were all inside. No harm to any birds. As winter slowly passed I had 1 magpie that was familiar with me. When I went to work if he or she, not sure, spotted me he would fly over and say hi. And when I came home he would come for some conversation and food. I loved it. He was so used to me and knew that I would not do him any harm. He would land on the eve above my door, I would give him something to eat and he would come to the step rail and I could be 3 feet away. And he would have his snack. I loved it. Now it is nesting season and I thought I lost him. But he still comes around not to often, I guess they need to look after the nest. I love all wildlife. Wish more people did.
Thanks for your comments Bryan, and for sharing your experiences with magpies.
The magpies you are talking about are not the same as the Australian Magpie. In fact, our magpies in Australian are not true magpies at all, and are of a different family altogether. The only reason they are called magpies is the similarity of appearance with the European Magpie. For more information go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie
I have canadian magpies in my yard. For some weird reason she nested just under the roof of the shop. I have never seen them do this before as they always big a huge nest in willows with a big roof on it but she used the roof as her roof. Its a very small nest compared to all the others I have seen but it sounds like she has several little ones in there. She is also alone without a mate to help her. The other night I found one of the babies on the lawn next to my car. It was still and bloody. My guess is he fell out of the nest and one my big dogs grabbed and was carrying him about. He has almost no feathers on one side and under his wings he looks like skinned chicken. Any advice???
Hi Trevor
I posted a comment in January this year about bob the baby magpie i had rescued from a fence and just had to let u know the great news. Bob (pretty sure is a female) has made friends with our resident clan of magpies. I was so happy but also very shocked they had excepted her at first they attacked her continually for a couple of months but now she is apart of the family and only comes home once a day for a feed. The only problem being is now all the magpies have clued on to the fact that i am a free meal ticket and i have to feed all 12 of them now!!!!!. Maybe one day bob will bring home a baby bob.
You had email me about your Australian Magpies not being true. But they are still magnificant birds. All birds are magnificant. With there different calls and ways they act.
Anyways in St. Albert, a bedroom comunity just outside of Edmonton, they have declared war on the magpies. People don,t like them. And they hired some jerk to go out and shoot them. What a bunch of crap. I phoned the city dept. in charge of this (I say lightly) program. Also there was a letter to the editor in the Edmonton Journal from an irritated animal wildlife lover. They also were not happy. Their last comment was Shame on you St. Albert.
It is so sad that humans are the biggest blight on the planet. We say everything is ours and we take what ever we want.
We mow down trees, drain wetlands, pave over fields and then have the nerve to say it’s in the name of progress.
In early April there was a wetland close to where I work. I noticed human activity, and called the city, and wrote letters to the mayor and councillors to no avail.
So they drained the swamp, and it was right in the start of nesting season here.
Finally I got a reply in late June. I didn’t want to open it.
Anyways something positive has happened. The City bought that parcell of land. And it will stay a wetland. The contact # was a man in charge of land reclaimation. We had a good conversation and he was pleased that there is people like me around. He was not happy that the wetland was drained, and he said that he had to go and educate the people. He wants me to keep an eye on the property and inform him of any questionable activity. Which I will do.
Sorry for rambling on. But these things were on my mind.
Anyways I still have magpies comming around. I have a feeder that I stock with sunflower seeds. The magpies like my cat food. And a tray with water. This attracts lots of different birds.
There are sparrows, chicadees, blue jays, and lots of other birds that I don,t know come for a snack.
Happing Birding, from a wildlife lover,
Bryan Freeman
Thanks for visiting again Bryan. The environment needs more passionate people like yourself to protect what we have before it is all lost due to “progress” or “economic rationalism” or plain and simple stupidity and greed.
Good on you Bryan. Keep speaking out on behalf of our beautiful birds – and all the other creatures too.
HI– WE FOUND A BABY MAGGIE TRYING TO FLY HIT THE DECK THEN UP ON WINDOW SILL PICKED THE BOY UP CLAWS RAPPED AROUND MY FINGERS SAT OUTSIDE TABLE, MUM FLEW DOWN GAVE HIM SMALL INSECTS WHILE SITTING ON FINGER THEN SHOT THROUGH,8AM [HAVE BEEN FEEDING 8- 10 &12 MAGGIES FOR 10 YEARS , & THERE KIDS & THERE KIDS KIDS SO THEY ALL KNOW ME $10 A WEEK FOR MINCE TWICE A DAY.APPARENTLY THERES A BIG BLUE GOES ON WHEN THEY KICK THE OLDER ONES OUT FOR THE YOUNG FELLAS TO MOVE IN.-USUALLY A CLAN ABOUT 8–10-12. I PUT THE BOY OUTSIDE ON TABLE SURROUNDED BY MINCE SO MUM WOULD FEED HIM THE OTHERS SNOBBED HIM BEAK OPEN CRYING FOR GRUB.–WE FED HIM MINCE BIRD SEED & WATER DRIPS FROM MY FINGER.7PM CANT FIND MUM.THE BOY IS IN SHOEBOX WRAPPED IN TOWEL SLEEPING NOT FRIGHTENED. WILL MUM EXCEPT HIM??? AFTER HANDLED BY HUMANS SITTING ON MY SHOULDER WALKING TO LETTER BOX TICKLING THE LAD STROKING BACK OF HEAD NO WORRYS. MAGS START MAKING A RACKET 2- 3AM SO THE BOY MAY HAIR HIS 12 BROTHERS SISTERS 30 YARDS AWAY IN HUGE 100 FOOT NORFOLK PINE, WE,LL PUT THE LAD OUT IN MORNING OTHER WISE RATS ATTACK THEM. —– WHAT SAY YEEA
Hi there Mr Abbs,
Your message was hard to read because it was all in capital letters. On the internet this means you are shouting. I don’t think that’s what you meant.
Even though you have handled this young magpie I am reasonably confident that the parents will continue to accept him and feed him. Magpies can become very friendly with humans and they can bring great delight to people if treated well like you are doing.
Gradually wean them off the mince and only give it to them as a treat several times a week. Otherwise their diet becomes unbalanced. Let them find insects and caterpillars and worms.
Another good way of helping them is to provide several bird baths around the garden, especially in the warmer months. They will appreciate not only the drink but also a good bath on the hot days.
Hi Trevor,
today has been horifically hot & I just found ababy maggie, who seems to be abandoned. I took a bit of water to him, as the heat & him being de-hydrated was my main concern. I stayed with him for a while & he drank some water, & then I put him near-by a apir of adults who I hoped were his parents, however they seemed to ignore him as did any other adults who were around. I didn’t really want to take him but didn’t want to leave him in case he got killed by a car or cat, so have brought him home. I have given him a bit of chicken breast & a cock-roach & a bit of bread. do you thinkg the other magpies in my garden (I found him bit away from my place)will tolerate him & perhaps adopt him? I am happy to feed him but would eventually like him to integrate with them. Any advice of whre I should keep him etc ( i.e inside or out…. I can’t be home all of the time & will be worried about leaving him in the garden)
Hi there Sarah,
I’m sorry but I don’t have any qualifications or experience in looking after injured or orphaned birds. I get many requests like yours so I have prepared an article to which I refer people:
http://www.trevorsbirding.com/caring-for-injured-or-orphaned-birds/
This article has many links to useful web sites and organisations which can help.
hi there i have at home two magpies that come to my veranda and i have been hand feeding them they are so friendly and the rely on me to supply food for their babies what should i feed them?
Hi there Annabell,
If you read through other comments above you will work out what to feed them.
A word of warning though – only give them an occasional treat. Don’t make them reliant on you as their food source. Otherwise – what happens when you go away? Let them forage in your garden for their own food as much as possible – they know what is the best diet for themselves and the babies.
is in the same situtation right now hows rescued a baby magpie is feed him or her worms sum meat and let it out a few times a day its mum n dad isnt involed with it so it lives me me home hopefully he or her will get strong enough also its tails a short too to early for it to go alone so pray it makes it and gets strong ive read ya post it was very help full thanx all for the imput i feel like im not lettin the baby down now
There was a baby magpie sitting on the bonnet of my car, parked in our carport. His parents wouldn’t help him and would only screech at him. Eventually, after several hours, he made it to a nearby tree. From there it took the rest of the day for him to make it down the side of the house and into another tree, which I think was his home. For several weeks we could recognise his distinct baby cry.
a neighbour has just brought us a baby magpie..actually young, but has no tail feathers,it was founf in the paddock after a storm…we have read all your comments and advise and and have it in a shoebox, in the dark for the next couple of hours till it settles down, then we shall give it some mince and soaked dog food andwater in the large shoe box which is lined with paper towels..we have named it “padgy”and hope sincerely that it will survive…we have a couple of magpie families around but nobody seems to be looking for our little one yet…if we have any problems we shall take it to taronga western plains zoo for its ongoing care.
Hi there, 3 days ago while gardening a magpie was following with interest.I am shocked to inform you he has no top part of the beak. The tongue is very dry, and is still around. Ive offered mince in water, he does not try this but, looks at it. Could you please help me or direct me to professional help. Thanks Wendy
Hi Wendy, sorry about the delay in replying. I’m not sure what has caused this problem and I doubt it will survive long. Is it still around? If so, you may need to contact your nearest vet clinic for advice, or ring the nearest wildlife carer – check in he local phone book.
Baby Magpie less than a year old in Sydney, Australia lives in our garden and surrounding forest. She has large growth on her claws. WHY? And how can I help her with these? Also, should she have such a large appetite at this age? Parents who live here and I’ve known for years don’t feed her now as she’s beyond that, just. Also, her daddy, “Mr Magpie” had a yellow eye at one point, and this week, I’ve noted it’s brown again, why? Mrs Magpie is slightly limping today. Dove is limping. And why do we sometimes have cockatoos that have lost all their feathers? And another cockatoo who was very bloated and sickly. It was attached by the other cockatoos and died. Could you please answer all these questions, especially the magpies, if possible. Thanks.
Hi there, sorry about the delay in replying. I’m sorry that I can’t help you with answers to your questions. I have no experience in caring for birds. Please contact your local vet clinic or wildlife carer for advice – look in the local phone directory.
The cockatoos are suffering some kind of disease – many parrots suffer in this way and unless you can catch them and take them to a wildlife carer there is little you can do, sadly.
I rescued a baby magpie about 6 weeks ago that had been blown out of the next during a storm. I put him in a crate in the backyard, and mum found him and fed him through the bars of the crate. I put a perch in it, and have been feeding him a little mince with insectivore. I have let him out a couple of times, but still seemed too young to fly, so back in the crate. He now has his adult feathers but is still fluffy on his chest. I think he is old enough now to forage around with mum still feeding him, so I will let him out tomorrow to fend for himself, hopefully he (although I think he is a she) will be OK especially at night.
Hello, I am worried about a baby magpie that came into my yard yesterday. It was with another young magpie and they curled up together on the ground, disappeared overnight but the younger one was back this morning. He has been hiding on the ground underneath a shrub but his mother hasn’t been in to feed him, I tried to put some mince in his mouth but he is unable to swallow it as I think he needs to have it pushed down his throat by his mother.
An adult magpie came in and took some mince but didn’t feed this baby, at the moment he is just sitting up at the back of my yard alone with no one to feed him, I’m so concerned about him, I don’t want to move him in case his mother comes back but was wondering if perhaps he’s been abandoned.
Could someone please offer some advise.
Thank you.
Hi Anne, Thanks for your comments. Sorry I didn’t get to answer your question at the time but I have been interstate visiting family. Did the baby magpie survive?