Australian Magpies nesting
A few weeks ago we noticed the resident Australian Magpies in our orchard busily gathering nesting material to refurbish the nest they used last year. All has been quiet for the last few weeks – until this morning.
As I was walking down the driveway to collect the newspaper I heard the very distinctive begging calls of a baby magpie in the nest. I guess we’ll have a pair of very busy parents kept occupied feeding the hungry youngsters over the coming weeks.
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpies nesting
Australian Magpie
While working in the garden pruning the fruit trees this morning, I noticed that our resident Australian Magpies are getting ready to breed. They are currently refurbishing the nest used last year. Fortunately we don’t have to worry about them swooping us because “our” magpies are a docile mob – unlike some magpies in other parts of the country.
Several previous articles on this topic may be of interest to new readers.
Black-backed Magpies
The Australian Magpie has three recognised races – the White-backed, the Black-backed and the Western.
Here in Murray Bridge the common one is the White-backed Magpie.
Australian Magpie (White-backed race)
From time to time I do see a Black-backed Magpie near our home. Yesterday I saw a single bird of this race just up the road from our home, perhaps about 400 metres away. This is note worthy because it is about the furthest west I’ve seen this race here in South Australia. I must keep a sharp eye out and check all those magpies that visit our garden.
Related articles:
- Australian Magpies – a more detailed discussion on the various races of this species, including notes on distribution.
Lunch time visitors
1 Comment »2nd December, 2007; Category: Bird Behaviour, Magpies and Currawongs, Ravens and Crows, Trip reports
Australian Magpie (Black-backed race)
During our visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra earlier this year we took a little time out from our wanderings around the gardens in order to have a picnic lunch. For places where people gather to eat, you can be almost assured of plenty of birds who gather ready to get a handout of food.
On this occasion we were not disappointed. As soon as we sat down we had the company of several Australian Magpies. They were quite bold and would have landed on our picnic table and helped themselves if we hadn’t discouraged them.
White-winged Chough
They were soon joined by a family of White-winged Choughs with their beady red eyes. Again they were quite bold, hopping around our feet and under the table and on the fence a metre behind us.
Australian Raven
A little later on an Australian Raven elegantly walked across the path towards us, checking out why we were getting so much attention. A tiny White-browed Scrubwren joined in the fun, but he was far too quick for my camera.
Pied Currawongs
Pied Currawong
2007 Australian Capital Territory trip report #9
Some of the more common birds I observed during my recent visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra were Pied Currawongs. Along with the Australian Magpie they seemed to be spread throughout the gardens and surrounding forest area.
Many people come to visit the gardens every day. The resident magpies and currawongs have therefore become quite used to humans being around. It fact, both species are relatively tame and will come quite close, especially when food is at hand. I guess they get quite a few handouts from the garden visitors.
I am quite taken by that bright yellow eye. It seems to almost have a sinister feel to it. In fact, seeing that eye staring at me, if I were a little child eating an icecream I would be very worried about that huge beak!
Pied Currawong