Many many years ago when we lived in Weetangera, a lone magpie with the same beak damage, used to visit our house every day. It was very tame and used to
bang on the same window until I fed it. As you say, it was impossible for it to forage successfully.
Susan Robertson
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Robin Eckermann via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 9 April 2021 9:10 AM
To:
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Magpie with damaged beak
The male "patriarch" of the local tribe that has been regularly in our garden for the best part of the past 20 years now has a broken upper beak - see below. He and his mate come and go regularly and over the years have bred many young in a nearby tree.
As we only moved to our present home some 20 years ago and this bird was an adult way back then, he is *at least* 20 years old.
Is this just old age - could it be disease, or the result of some physical trauma? About a week ago I saw it and the tip of its beak was still in place, though it looked to have lost the other light grey layer.
Are beaks capable of repair ... or is this likely to be a terminal condition? He currently appears to be in generally good condition, but his ability to forage for worms etc is clearly compromised.
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Regards ... Robin Eckermann
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