WARNING! If you live in a treeless desert part of Australia, you can
afford to ignore this rather long message. Unless that is, you happen to
enjoy reading a good book about birds.
With impeccable timing The University of NSW Press has got the book "Magpie
Alert" by Darryl Jones into the bookshops to co-incide with baby magpies in
the nests, and the bigger and hungrier those nestlings get, the more
protective, father magpies will become, and the more some of them will
attack.
Who/what will they attack? Cats, dogs, goannas, avian predators certainly,
but as we all know, a percentage of them will also attack humans. These
rogue magpies - or brave defenders of their young, depending on your point
of view - are an annual headache for all Australian Wildlife Authorities,
who really are in a no-win situation, because of the wide range in public
perception of swooping magpies and what should be done about them.
There were many theories, in the nature of folk-lore really, as to why
magpies attack people, and what to do about them, but until the author and
his team started a detailed study of the species and the problem in 1992,
hard data was very thin on the ground. As Dr Jones points out we still have
a lot to learn, questions remain unanswered, but the book contains a wealth
of information, as well as providing fascinating reading.
Taking a leaf from 'you know who's' book, I offer a short quiz - with a
difference: here you win for not knowing the answers ... if this causes you
to buy the book. But first a few more points about it.
? there would be few biology treatises where existing published and
unpublished data have been so thoroughly researched and discussed;
? use of the English language is exemplary; so clear, concise and easy
to read, with just the right touch of humour; and (something I admire very
greatly):
? the author is meticulous in critically examining his findings, and
pointing out if further data is needed or other conclusions should be
considered.
And BTW, it seems that UNSW PRESS is rather more competent in the
editing/proof reading area than the Oxford University Press: I have also
been reading and been fascinated by "The Living Clock - the Orchestrator of
Biological Rhythms", author, John D. Palmer (OUP 2002) and so far have found
23 typographical or related errors; found two only in "Magpie Alert"!
THE QUIZ
1. What is the worst form of attack perpetrated by magpies on humans?
(Tip: it does not involve swooping.)
2. What class of person is most subject to magpie attack, and what is the
likely explanation for this?
3. Contrary to some popular belief, it was shown that clothing colours are
not a factor in causing a magpie to attack. A single striking (pun
intended) exception to this general rule was encountered. What colours were
involved?
4. For worst offenders, removal of the attacking bird is necessary.
Trapping and relocating the offending bird is generally preferred to
shooting. (Only persons authorised by the relevant Wildlife Authority may
legally do either.) Except as juveniles, Magpies occupy, and defend
permanent territories year-round against other magpies. It was expected
that they would not have the homing ability of homing pigeons and this was
found to be the case.
Early in the study, translocation was tested with the first few birds
released at distances of 12, 15 and 18 kilometres from home.
Which of these managed to get back home, and how long did it take?
5. At what distance of translocation did the study find that 50% of the
released birds got home?
6. Unless constantly patrolled and advertised as occupied, a magpie
territory will quickly be taken over by the birds of a neighbouring
territory, or by magpies previously without a territory. So if a vicious
male is successfully translocated, can the female cope with both defending
her territory and feeding her chicks? What happens to the chicks that it so
different from what generally applies in the animal kingdom?
7. Under what circumstances can feeding a problem magpie help solve the
problem?
8. Magpie attacks occur when there are chicks in the nest, and most attacks
are by the male. Except for the group referred to in Q. 2, attacks are
largely limited to a specific zone around the nesting tree. How big?
Magpies of course are only one of many native species that cause problems
that the public expects wildlife officers to solve. Crows cause annoyance
rather danger, but the annoyance can be great for anyone who hate crows.
Dr Jones decribes one action concerning Crows - Torresian Crows, the study
was done from Griffith University in Brisbane. He writes:
"I have used the technique myself; we (and he describes what they did)
next to a roost of Torresian Crows just as a large flock had settled for the
evening. The result was spectacular: every bird instantly fled silently
into the night."
The action taken was entirely benign and silent. Would you like to know
what it was? The book will tell you.
This was posted on birding-aus on 27/8/02:
" 'MAGPIE ALERT: LEARNING TO LIVE WITH A WILD NEIGHBOUR' (University of New
South Wales Press - RRP $29.95, ISBN 0 86840 668 6), is now available from
Angus & Robertson/Bookworld bookshops everywhere and 'Naturally Queensland'
in Brisbane. The results of 7 years of intensive study of aggressive
magpies, this popular science book examines the many myths and hypotheses
surrounding one of Australia's favourite - yet potentially dangerous -
birds. Many discoveries of the behaviour of this familiar species point to
new ways for managing and coexisting with 'the maggie'."
Get your copy and find the answers to all the above.
Good reading.
Syd
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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