A ridiculously tame male Magpie-lark we call 'Mud' frequents our place from
time to time. Periods of absence include one of around a year. Easily
identified as an individual by one displaced wing feather (through several
moults), its behaviour, obvious familiarity, (enters the house between our
legs) and demanding demeanour (eats cheese not pet mince). On one occasion
it appeared after several days absence with one leg totally closed and
useless, the other partially immobilised, both badly tangled in fine fibres
which could have come from a shag carpet. After a few visits I caught it by
hand and my wife cut away the fibres with pointed scissors ignoring its
deafening protestations. We did the least bent leg first and that came good
by the time we had freed the other. The second leg took longer but could
bear its weight within minutes although closed for days.
Another of our sins is that we feed a family of Magpies. Last winter the
adult male was seriously injured on one side suffering damage to a wing and
head. I suspect it was hit by a car while attempting to eject last years
young from the territory. It was too sick to eat and barely moved from a
secure perch for days. I thought a sick bird was a dead bird and one this
sick could not possibly survive. But it did and has produced another
youngster. However I doubt that it would without the supplementary food we
provide.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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