magpie swoops down
to ground, bowls over a grey blob, flies away a bit, pecks furiously
at blob, mates watch with interest.
Steve,
two years ago in mid spring, a friend and I observed a similar Magpie
"attack" on a fledgling Common Starling. The Starling was (unsuccesfully)
trying to shelter itself from pecking in a section of kerb and channel in a
surburban street. Although there were a number of Magpies around,
presumably part of the same family, only two were carrying out the attacks,
the others either on the ground close by in adjacent trees. All were
calling loudly while the attack continued, and all seemed to be mature
individuals. Eventually the Starling was killed after a period of about 10
minutes, during which time both Magpies seemed to take turns at the
Starling (Tag Team ???). No one particular part of the body was targeted,
blows were supplied liberaly to the whole body. I never noticed the parent
of the Starling in the area while the attack happened. As soon as the
Starling was killed, the Magpie "Mob" moved on.
Magpies 1 : Starlings 0. :)
Regards
Richard Dilena
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