Anne Green wrote in regard to her magpie attaching a peaceful dove:
'Was the maggie being opportunist - chasing down an already
stunned/injured dove and (maybe) finishing it off, or did she attack the
dove in the first place?
........ Several years ago I also witnessed another adult magpie chase, kill
and
eat a fledgeling House Sparrow".
Several years ago I had a pair of magpies who used my yard as part of their
territory. They were able to detect a spotted turtle-dove or blackbird at
100m and immediately chase them away.
On one occasion I was alerted to the sound of excited/agitated magpies.
Went outside and found one of the magpies attacking a blackbird it had on
the ground whilst the other stood by and 'cheered'. My arrival disturbed
the magpies who flew away leaving me to hear the blackbird give it's last
gasp.
At the time I assumed they were just defending 'their territory' however in
view of Anne's comments now I'm not so sure and maybe they were intending to
eat the blackbird.
Val Ford
Sorrento, Vic
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