Magpie Lark(?) Attacking ChildrenintheMelbourneSuburbs

["Mike Carter" <>]

I'm wondering whether 'attack' is a misinterpretation of the birds 
behaviour. I hand-feed lots of birds by demand in my back-garden, (discuss 
your disgust between yourselves if you wish but no correspondence will be 
entered into!), and I believe it could be just an attention seeking device. 
Currently the boldest and most demanding is Mud, a male Magpie-lark, an 
extraordinary and charming bird. His method of ensuring he gets his food 
first (his is a special diet) started with him sitting on my shoulder and 
emitting that ear-piercing shriek of theirs directly into my ear-drum. This 
was very painful for me and did not achieve the desired reaction for him, in 
fact he found that it was counter-productive. So he amended that strategy to 
sitting on my head, to which I am not averse. But if I am too slow to please 
him, he will try to settle on my nose or on my spectacle shafts! The other 
day his foot slipped and one claw went through my eyelid drawing blood.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136