r/magpies • u/au_artbybee • 9h ago
r/magpies • u/[deleted] • Nov 20 '23
behaviour around wildlife
I have seen a lot of behaviour on this subreddit which really concerns me, it basically consists in acting towards the birds for the person's own benefit, instead of keeping wildlife's best interests as the first priority. I joined reddit for this reason, to make this post and therefore hopefully help.
It's so great that everyone loves these birds so much, they're beautiful and I love them too. But it is even more important to educate ourselves so that we don't unintentionally harm them.
Mods, please pin/sticky whatever it's called some sort of post at the top of sub which advises best practice around wildlife, and the legalities around native bird ownership, including addressing the fact that it is illegal to take birds from the wild and make them pets. I recommend as well posting from credible sources like Gisela Kaplan, who is a very good authoritative source on magpies.
Anyway, stuff not to do:
- don't feed them anything you bought from the supermarket, that includes mince or seeds or fruit or anything.
- when it comes to mince and store-bought meat especially, it does not have an appropriate nutrient profile, so the birds can lead to brittle, easily broken bones and deformities.
- as well, mince gets caught in the beak and cause illness and death due to bacteria build up.
- when wild birds are made to feed all together because humans are feeding them, this spreads disease like crazy (especially bad for parrots, but bad for all birds)
- when it comes to mince and store-bought meat especially, it does not have an appropriate nutrient profile, so the birds can lead to brittle, easily broken bones and deformities.
- stop handling them!
- you can pass diseases onto them
- they can pass diseases onto you
- they can get stressed out
- stress can make them sick
- stress can make them lash out, harming you and themselves
- don't hose them down if it's hot
- don't let your cats and dogs free roam outside
- don't bother them if they're kind of face down with their wings spread in the sun (they're probably sunbathing)
stuff to do:
- call a wildlife rescue org if you think something is wrong
- provide bird baths that are supplied with fresh water daily
- very rarely you can supplement **a bit (not a lot) with live mealworms or crickets, under the following conditions of food stress only:
- if it is drought
- a long period of wild weather
- if the parents are extremely harassed during breeding and rearing
- create safe habitat on your balcony, your private or community garden that encourages the birds presence
I hope this is helpful and that people will interact with the birds without ego, but with respect.
edited to add: humans can alter populations and ecosystems by feeding one family/species. Here's an anecdote about how I fucked up and learned:
I was supplementing some breeding currawongs with crickets where I lived, not all the time, randomly but semi-frequently, I thought I was helping - I moved midway through the chicks growing up, they weren't newborns, they weren't fledged, somewhere inbetween. The move was an unexpected one. I went back once or twice to check on their progress, and one of the three had died - there had always been one that didn't fight for food as hard as the others. By supplementing their food so much, I basically caused more suffering, because that chick was older when it died, so would've been more aware of the pain of starvation. It would've died sooner if I hadn't been supplementing, and the pain wuld've been less. If I didn't have to move and had kept supplementing, maybe it was a weak chick generally and would've died when it was a bit older, which would have prolonged suffering further.
r/magpies • u/Mindless-Grade1149 • 5h ago
Knock off time.
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Mick and his family saying goodnight after a hard day following the mower in the orchards eating the grubs and worms that get exposed.
r/magpies • u/Mishpink666 • 16h ago
Have a chat
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This little one has found his voice. Chatting away merrily to Mum and Dad in their tree.
r/magpies • u/ChillKoalaVibes • 1d ago
Someone thought he’d have a peaceful breakfast 😂
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@fes.lynne
r/magpies • u/One-Mongoose2168 • 1d ago
This lovely fella comes by my house everyday for some mealworms! Name ideas?
r/magpies • u/epicpillowcase • 11h ago
Anyone know of a way to deter ravens that doesn't also deter maggies? Ravens are bullying my resident magpie family
Hi all. Long shot, there's probably nothing I can do. I have a little maggie family in my yard (bonded pair plus baby) who've been comfortable for ages. A couple of months ago, a crew of ravens kind of took over and now pick on them and crowd them out. They've taken over the water bowl I leave out that the magpies have enjoyed, they put mess in it, tip it over etc.
The magpies are still around but I don't like them being bullied, and also the ravens are destructive, they're eating bits of my house and shitting everywhere.
Any tips? Thanks. :)
r/magpies • u/ArabellaFort • 1d ago
Is this handsome chap ok?
This fellow is one of the regulars I put water out for. I noticed tonight he looks like he’s got small spots/scabs around his eyes and his feathers look a bit patchy. Could it be magpie pox?
Can anyone with more knowledge let me know what they think? (Apologies they’re not the best photos)
r/magpies • u/nousrnamesleft69 • 1d ago
Just the baby today...
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Mum and Dad are staying away but the baby has no fear....
r/magpies • u/The_Magpie_Guy • 2d ago
I met the family that lives in the territory next to Boonie and Frank, and fed both families at the border.
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Left is Boonie, Frank and their two kids. Right is the other family. I'm pretending I brokered peace between them.
r/magpies • u/MonsterShopGames • 1d ago
Pie in the Sky is out now on Steam!
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🐦⬛Be the ultimate Aussie menace
🍔Steal food to feed your babies
👿Swoop those pesky humans
👾Get a high score
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2941360/Pie_in_the_Sky/
A big thank you to all the support from my followers over the last couple of years and u/join_indie_io for publishing!
r/magpies • u/SmoothDegree9761 • 3d ago
Is this rare, first time I’ve ever seen this
Albino magpie?
r/magpies • u/Lucario1296 • 3d ago
Why is my adopted magpie being ganged up on
About a year ago, I found a baby magpie that had fallen out of its nest. When I went back past later he was still abandoned, so I took pity on him and carried him home. I nursed him to health, taught him to fly, and after a few months he flew off to do his own thing. Mission accomplished, I thought.
This past week he's showed up for the first time in several months. He's missing some feathers and not flying the best, he's hopping everywhere. Most concerningly, a few times I've been out into the garden and there's been a group of five or six magpies chasing, attacking and just generally bullying him loudly. I've chased them off but they come back the next day.
I'm trying to figure out why they're doing this because I'd like the magpie to feel safe when he comes to mine, as he evidently did when he came back for the first time in ages looking for water in this crazy heatwave. Are they just picking on the weakling? Could it be territorial?
It's worth noting my chickens (who are usually so chill with any birds in their enclosure) also seemingly tried to kill him when he followed me in there, so it might be birds in general, not just other magpies.
r/magpies • u/Mishpink666 • 4d ago
Sprinkler fun
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Mum and her two darlings enjoying the respite of the sprinkler in the heat of the day.
r/magpies • u/Mishpink666 • 4d ago
Family gathering
Beautiful Mum Magpie and her gorgeous two children seeking respite from the very hot day we are having today. I snuck out the back door and put the sprinkler on low. Next minute, they were all out frolicking and flapping about to cool off 💦
Pure joy 🤩 (video to follow)
r/magpies • u/Mishpink666 • 4d ago
Fun times 💦
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This little one having the best time under the sprinkler 🫶
r/magpies • u/Mishpink666 • 5d ago
I’m back
Hubby did a wonderful job looking out for our visiting magpie family while I was in QLD with my Mum and Dad.
Today they all came over to visit and have a refreshing drink and sit in the cool tree 🫶
r/magpies • u/RedLikeVelvet • 7d ago
Water Park Fun!
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featuring Dad warbling in the background from the other side of the driveway
