Magpie lifespans

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Alberta,

 

As a guess it is probably a fairly good one. Banding studies can provide this. I think there was a well known case studied by Carrick in Canberra that was I think 16.

 

In general it appears that Australian passerines, once they have matured, are quite long lived. That sentence means many die young, so the average life span is not long.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Alberta Hayes [
Sent: Wednesday, 27 January 2010 3:13 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Magpie lifespans

Hey everyone,

My friends have taken to
asking me bird related questions whenever they think of them, an whilst I can
generally answer them, they did ask one I didn't know yesterday.  
How
long do magpies live for?  I can't say I've ever thought about it, but
thought maybe 10 years?  How wrong am I?

Alberta Hayes, bombarded
with questions since friends got new housemates, Monash.