Hi Greg,
I haven't seen magpies attacking and pursuing Australasian Pipits. But while
monitoring bird populations in roadside reserves along the Hume Highway I've
seen Australasian Pipits display and swoop at magpies when the pipits are
nesting. The pipits nest among the grasses in the median strip along the
highway. Last November I noticed that nesting pipits would perch and trill
on top of road posts along the edges of the median strip and perform their
usual swooping dives if a rival conspecific or potential predator was
nearby. Australian Magpies stroll across the vehicle lanes from the sides of
the highway to the median strip while foraging for animal road-kills (mainly
large invertebrates and small vertebrates). If Australian Magpies strolled
too close to an area of the median strip where an Australasian Pipit's nest
was located, then a pipit would display and swoop at them to drive them
away. In most cases, the magpies didn't seem to take too much notice of the
displaying and swooping pipits, which is hardly surprising since they (the
magpies) seem to leave it to the last moment before flying out of the way of
an approaching vehicle.
Kind regards,
Stephen
Stephen Ambrose
Ryde, NSW
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Greg and Val Clancy
Sent: Monday, 11 August 2014 12:26 PM
To: Michael Todd;
Subject: Magpie killing Crested Pigeon
A slightly different slant on this story of Magpies attacking Crested
Pigeons. I have numerous records of Magpies attacking and pursuing
Australasian Pipits in flight to great heights and for many seconds. I
wondered if others have witnessed this. I doubt whether the Magpies chase
the Pipits as a food item but must consider them a competitor for food or
just chase them because they can. The Pipits usually escaped from the
Magpies as far as I could tell.
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
| PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
| 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960
http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com
http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Todd
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 6:30 PM
To:
Subject: Magpie killing Crested Pigeon
Hello all,
I was at Broken Hill for work this week and made what was to me a strange
observation. While walking along Argent Street (without my camera of
course), I heard a thud beside me and saw a Crested Pigeon on the ground
that must have hit the ground fairly hard. A Magpie flew straight down to
the pigeon before I had time to react and started pecking it quickly and
aggressively around the head. The pigeon was clearly still alive- flapping
its wings and kicking its legs.
For a moment I considered whether I should try to save the pigeon and then
realised that the pigeon was already probably too far gone and also decided
that I shouldn't interrupt a natural event.I watched for another 10-15
seconds while the magpie dispatched with the pigeon, many of the pecks were
directed at the back of the head and the face. I actually wondered whether
the magpie was going to start eating. I decided to rush back to my
accommodation to grab the camera (only 50 m. away) as the magpie didn't look
like it was going anywhere. When I returned the magpie had left.
Looking back I assume that it must have been a territorial magpie that was
in a mean frame of mind that morning.
Just curious to know if others have seen similar behaviour by magpies?
Cheers
Mick Todd
Michael Todd
Red Cliffs, VIC
http://wildlifing.smugmug.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-todd/2b/425/605
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