Strange event this evening when in the back yard just
outside of the patio. Suddenly surrounded by about 15 or more magpies (adults
and juveniles) sitting on the roof of the house and patio and nearby pergola. I
normally get visited by a few magpies but never this many all at once. It scared
all the other birds in the yard including sulphur crested cockatoos, corellas
and galahs which flew into the large euc. on my property. The magpies stayed
there for about ten minutes and until I disturbed them by going to get my
camera, by which time most had flown in to the large euc as well. The photos
only show the remaining birds (gloomy weather).
Some birds fought in the tree and eventually they flew
away, but thought this was very unusual especially in regards to the numbers. I
believe they would have to be one family and perhaps 'showing' the young ones
where to get water/food and where no dogs/cats live? A similar event also
happened with about 8 cockatoos about two wks ago (I normally have visits from
several). Birds learn from their parents and the season is likely to be a
good one for breeding, so seems to make sense of this event (and no I don't feed
the magpies meat as a number of people do).
Anyone else had large visitations recently?
Vic
