Albino Magpie

[Denis Wilson <>]

An out-of-area report.

Today, at Kangaloon (dairy-farming country near Robertson)  I was able to get a photo of an unusual bird which I have seen in the distance on several occasions over three months.
It turned out to be an Albino Magpie.
A large bird and quite confident.

I spoke with a woman who lives nearby, and she knew the bird, and said it had been around for about 6 years.
It is apparently very "bossy" when it comes to dealing with other Magpies.
(She had hand-raised several foundling juveniles about 3 years ago, and this bird had "come around" while her charges were still being fed).

So, from that, we know that it is surviving OK in the field.
It is at least 4 years old, possibly as much as 6, though that requires further consultation with another property-owner.

It has pink beak, pink legs and white eyes.
A dead-set full albino. 
It was successfully feeding on large insect larvae in the paddock.

Denis Wilson
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com

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