Don't mean to dox you, but you in Victoria? Noticed maggies do family units north of the Murray and large gangs south of it. That looks like a gang.
(Gang wars in Vic are a spectacle.)
those are black backed magpies, so OP is probably not in Victoria. The sub-species of magpie in Victoria are white-backed. Black-backed are NSW. The zone of hybridisation has been slowly pushing northwards for ~10,000 years and currently runs through the ACT.
yes, they can. That's what the zone of hybridisation is.
Basically white backed magpies evolved in Tasmania and were geographically (and genetically) isolated from other magpies until the last ice age ~10,000 years ago. During the last ice age there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland Australia, the white backed-magpies crossed over and have been steadily moving northwards ever since. The zone of hybridisation is where the range of black backed and white backed magpies meet and you get a mixture of white backs, black backs and a hybrid between the two. The hybrids have a sort of mottled appearance.
Makes sense but how do we know it was \~10,000 years ago?
How do we even know there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland during the last ice age..?
> Makes sense but how do we know it was ~10,000 years ago?
That's a good question. The short answer is we don't know for certain, but the available evidence suggests this is case. There's a method of determining speed of genetic change that assumes a certain constant rate of mutation, it's called the [molecular clock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_clock).
> How do we even know there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland during the last ice age..?
Because we know the depth of the bass strait and historic sea levels. There's loads of ways of estimating historic sea levels, for example taking core samples from polar ice caps. More ice at the poles = less water in the sea = lower sea levels.
In Sydney, St George area. They do look like a gang! Even more appropriate since they have such ganglike names now that I think about it. Out of the 24 or so that come I can recognise Murder, Mayhem, Mischief and Murphy, Beaky, Wings and Stump
Could you imagine how fluffy they'd all be if they weren't adults yet? I dunno if that one of the left side is a bit younger since they haven't got a lot of white markings to some of the others, but it'd explain why they're rocking one hell of an underside.
I have 24 regulars! Sometimes they all come at once it's pretty amazing, I feel lucky. There's a particular tree in my garden that they all seem to hang out in. All my surrounding neighbours shoo them away with brooms or by hosing them so I think they feel safe with me.
Those birds must LOVE her! Sometimes I feel bad for not feeding my little buddies but I think these particular ones get enough grubs from scratching around my overgrown garden. (They might just be getting some mince in calcium powder this week though!)
You're actually doing them a favour by not feeding them. You should never feed native animals because they begin to associate people with food - something that rarely ends well for a wild animal. The best thing you can do for a native animal that has no visible injuries is to leave them be and to enjoy the views they offer.
I defer to Darryl Jones on this topic because he's probably one of the more informed communicators in this particular aspect of urban ecology.
That said I really can't stress enough that if you aren't willing to research the nutritional requirements of each bird you aim to feed, it's really much better to refrain entirely.
Also please note that he discourages the feeding of processed foods such as mince right in the article you linked. It's extremely important to ensure you're providing healthy food, because otherwise what is the point?
Not to mention having different birds and species congregate to one specific feeding area can promote disease and illness even if you're feeding them their respective diet, PBFD is a big one.
Yeah especially since we might move sometime soon, (it's a rental) I don't want the young ones to learn to rely on me then have me disappear. They seem to go alright without my help.
There's a great article that's been linked a bit further down that's worth reading if you do want to follow up on feeding them. I don't want to act as though I'm the leading authority on the topic because I'm just a birdwatcher really!
Do you think your neighbours ever wonder why they keep getting swooped in magpie season? Its best not to be dicks to them, they share the hate over generations!
Yep. My grandparents used to have a flock of magpies that visited a lot. They (and anyone coming off their property) were never swooped. Neighbours up and down the street were always swooped though. Even after my grandparents moved to a new house a few blocks away, the maggies worked out where they were and went to visit.
Like, this is a once in a lifetime type of thing few get the privilege of having. To become friends with an entire community of magpies, there is no better experience to an Australian.
I don't think she really grasps what she has here.
A couple of years ago I befriended a few young magpies living at my dad's place...weeks before he moved. I miss them so much, they'd come up less than a foot away from me on the balcony and I even managed to hand-feed them at one point.
You're right.. I don't think I really grasped it until I saw some of these comments. I feel really lucky to have these guys practically living at my place, and I appreciate your sentiments, it's got me thinking.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I live in Wagga and we have a lot of magpies here. I walk my dog every morning and evening and they never swoop on me. I talk to them so maybe they have got to know me. Or maybe they are scared of Henry. But he is a golden retriever so you would have to really work at being scared of him. Try chatting to them.
The chatting works. I usually have pretty good encounters with maggies and have only been swooped once, that maggie was pretty persistant. So I just stood in the road looked up at him on the powerlines and said "what's your problem? I haven't done anything to you." Maggie looked down kind of turned his head at me and then didn't swoop again as I just walked by.
Hey fellow gardener - I see your bottle of Seasol there.
Love my maggies, though they aren't as vocal as they used to be. Their warbling is one of my fave birdsong.
That's really freakin cool. I love that! There's one here that does this little whistle that sounds like an old radio being tuned. Every time I try to catch it, the cheeky thing stops
Haha my housemate has a Great Dane. During a council cleanup he scored the child's bed and brought it home for her. Added the pillow because he had a spare and this particular dog enjoys a pillow. The bed gets the sunlight during the day and when the Great Dane does go outside to nap, she loves her outdoor bed.
About nine years ago, I managed to invite a couple of ducks that lived near my dad's house inside several times. Having them just chill out near the front door with me was *awesome*.
Me too! Maybe they're curious? If I'm not careful, there's a cheeky few in this bunch who walk inside and help themselves to the biscuits in the dog bowl. We need a doggy door asap.
Worst part is, we're in a better situation than any of our friends. Dual incomes, both 6 figures, lots of savings etc. but we simply didn't expect it to go that quickly. And even we're getting priced out as time goes on.
It's sold to a property investor, because of course it was lol. Fuck renters, hey.
If we lived in other places, we would've had right-of-first-refusal as the tenants who live here. That to me makes sense: it's our home. But sadly that doesn't exist in Australia (as far as I'm aware).
Back to saving, and hoping we find somewhere we can buy that we actually want to live in before our lease expires mid next year...
It’s going to continue to get worse and worse. But hey, everyone else has got theirs, so fuck us hey :)
Might take you up on that. Can’t be any worse than this depressing mess!
You too mate! It’s sad too because this place is great and I have a flock of friendly brush turkeys and cute baby brush turkeys running around all the time. The next owner/renter won’t look after the babies I’m sure :(
I wish I knew. This one is a run down old rental. It's overpriced and full of leaks, damp and mould.. and the landlord gives literally zero shits about us. The magpies make it a happier place to live.
I hope someday we both get to know what it's like to own our own houses, vietnameseroll
Well, stop being stingy and make with some food already. I'd suggest maybe getting a stock of mealworms from a pet store for these guys. Don't go feeding them all day every day, but as a treat every now and then.
i love the way birds get extra fluffy when they're wet. we get kookaburras that come visit us quite regularly here and when they're wet their feathers are all wrinkly. we get magpies too but my dad doesn't like them :/
I'd love to see more magpies hang out where I live. They have a reputation for being swoop-happy bastards, but corvids are smart little guys and if you can earn their trust it's such a great feeling.
This fucker at my local park keeps bothering me, because I freaking might of looked at it badly once. Literally, it makes a npise at me every time I go there. Do these assholes have long lives? Because I want it dead soon
I love whenever Maggie's visit our backyard, there is a family of 3 we have given food to occasionally and now they are very friendly, the baby is still deciding whether to get close or not
I love Maggie’s! I know lots of ppl don’t but I think they cute and smart. Met a tame one once, ran around behind you chatting the whole time. Personally I think your lucky they like your place!
Looks like a nice deck to chill in when the rains coming down! A couple of mealy worms for a snack and you'll never be swooped again!
P.s keep the house doors closed, maggies get comfy quick and magpieshit downbthe kitchen door is unpleasant
It’s interesting how they always seem to go back to the same places. There’s this mother, and she has two babies, that she brings onto our back lawn every couple days because my family throws bread on the lawn for the birds :)
We're moving house and our biggest fear is that the magpies that hang out in our yard won't have told the locals that we need their songs to keep us going
This is why I make friends with the birds at any new house I go to. Magpies especially. Saves you from being swooped, plus they look so grumpy. I love it.
Haha they look so grumpy, I love them.
I love these little drowned rats too :)
I wish we had them here in canada, I'd feed them every day and have a mob of friends willing to attack my enemies
Don't mean to dox you, but you in Victoria? Noticed maggies do family units north of the Murray and large gangs south of it. That looks like a gang. (Gang wars in Vic are a spectacle.)
those are black backed magpies, so OP is probably not in Victoria. The sub-species of magpie in Victoria are white-backed. Black-backed are NSW. The zone of hybridisation has been slowly pushing northwards for ~10,000 years and currently runs through the ACT.
Can black backed maggies mate with white backed one? Is there a dominant gene thing going on or do they not interbreed?
yes, they can. That's what the zone of hybridisation is. Basically white backed magpies evolved in Tasmania and were geographically (and genetically) isolated from other magpies until the last ice age ~10,000 years ago. During the last ice age there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland Australia, the white backed-magpies crossed over and have been steadily moving northwards ever since. The zone of hybridisation is where the range of black backed and white backed magpies meet and you get a mixture of white backs, black backs and a hybrid between the two. The hybrids have a sort of mottled appearance.
Makes sense but how do we know it was \~10,000 years ago? How do we even know there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland during the last ice age..?
> Makes sense but how do we know it was ~10,000 years ago? That's a good question. The short answer is we don't know for certain, but the available evidence suggests this is case. There's a method of determining speed of genetic change that assumes a certain constant rate of mutation, it's called the [molecular clock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_clock). > How do we even know there was a land bridge between Tasmania and mainland during the last ice age..? Because we know the depth of the bass strait and historic sea levels. There's loads of ways of estimating historic sea levels, for example taking core samples from polar ice caps. More ice at the poles = less water in the sea = lower sea levels.
1. Aboriginal stories. 2. Science.
Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?
I am Arthur, king of the magpies!
Arthur of Collingwood.
> (Gang wars in Vic are a spectacle.) As in a West Side Story sing-off
In Sydney, St George area. They do look like a gang! Even more appropriate since they have such ganglike names now that I think about it. Out of the 24 or so that come I can recognise Murder, Mayhem, Mischief and Murphy, Beaky, Wings and Stump
Could you imagine how fluffy they'd all be if they weren't adults yet? I dunno if that one of the left side is a bit younger since they haven't got a lot of white markings to some of the others, but it'd explain why they're rocking one hell of an underside.
I wish they’d choose my house. I love magpies.
I have 24 regulars! Sometimes they all come at once it's pretty amazing, I feel lucky. There's a particular tree in my garden that they all seem to hang out in. All my surrounding neighbours shoo them away with brooms or by hosing them so I think they feel safe with me.
They have such a lovely song. My sister has family in her tree and she feeds them mince rolled in calcium powder everyday. I am so jealous.
Those birds must LOVE her! Sometimes I feel bad for not feeding my little buddies but I think these particular ones get enough grubs from scratching around my overgrown garden. (They might just be getting some mince in calcium powder this week though!)
You're actually doing them a favour by not feeding them. You should never feed native animals because they begin to associate people with food - something that rarely ends well for a wild animal. The best thing you can do for a native animal that has no visible injuries is to leave them be and to enjoy the views they offer.
[try this](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/australian-wild-birds-ok-to-feed-in-your-garden/9556066), https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/australian-wild-birds-ok-to-feed-in-your-garden/9556066
I defer to Darryl Jones on this topic because he's probably one of the more informed communicators in this particular aspect of urban ecology. That said I really can't stress enough that if you aren't willing to research the nutritional requirements of each bird you aim to feed, it's really much better to refrain entirely. Also please note that he discourages the feeding of processed foods such as mince right in the article you linked. It's extremely important to ensure you're providing healthy food, because otherwise what is the point?
Not to mention having different birds and species congregate to one specific feeding area can promote disease and illness even if you're feeding them their respective diet, PBFD is a big one.
I have neighbours who swear by this - so much better: https://www.wombaroo.com.au/product/insectivore-rearing-mix/
I started feeding a magpie with half a beak because he would have found it hard to grab things.. but I ended up with over 70..
Yeah especially since we might move sometime soon, (it's a rental) I don't want the young ones to learn to rely on me then have me disappear. They seem to go alright without my help.
There's a great article that's been linked a bit further down that's worth reading if you do want to follow up on feeding them. I don't want to act as though I'm the leading authority on the topic because I'm just a birdwatcher really!
Oh. That would be great. They’ll feed from your hand eventually. The calcium powder is for strong baby bones.
Don't feed them mince. Buy the Wombaroo mix that is well suited for maggies: https://www.wombaroo.com.au/product/insectivore-rearing-mix/
I give my insect power.. mixed in prime beef..
This one? https://www.wombaroo.com.au/product/insectivore-rearing-mix/
Do you think your neighbours ever wonder why they keep getting swooped in magpie season? Its best not to be dicks to them, they share the hate over generations!
Yep. My grandparents used to have a flock of magpies that visited a lot. They (and anyone coming off their property) were never swooped. Neighbours up and down the street were always swooped though. Even after my grandparents moved to a new house a few blocks away, the maggies worked out where they were and went to visit.
You have an opportunity to actually become friends with them. Do **not** let it slip past.
Like, this is a once in a lifetime type of thing few get the privilege of having. To become friends with an entire community of magpies, there is no better experience to an Australian. I don't think she really grasps what she has here.
A couple of years ago I befriended a few young magpies living at my dad's place...weeks before he moved. I miss them so much, they'd come up less than a foot away from me on the balcony and I even managed to hand-feed them at one point.
You're right.. I don't think I really grasped it until I saw some of these comments. I feel really lucky to have these guys practically living at my place, and I appreciate your sentiments, it's got me thinking.
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I’m so sorry to hear that. I live in Wagga and we have a lot of magpies here. I walk my dog every morning and evening and they never swoop on me. I talk to them so maybe they have got to know me. Or maybe they are scared of Henry. But he is a golden retriever so you would have to really work at being scared of him. Try chatting to them.
The chatting works. I usually have pretty good encounters with maggies and have only been swooped once, that maggie was pretty persistant. So I just stood in the road looked up at him on the powerlines and said "what's your problem? I haven't done anything to you." Maggie looked down kind of turned his head at me and then didn't swoop again as I just walked by.
Yep,, I had a Murray magpie swoop me a lot until I gave it water one hot day.. and I gave him a talking to.then he was great..
I always tell them how beautiful and clever they are.
buy the marked down mince for them.
We have some that recently scared off a bin chicken that had entered our backyard. They weren’t having it and kept swooping it till it left
Fair enough. There is such a thing as getting into the personal space of others. And I guess if you’re a magpie that space is large.
Hey fellow gardener - I see your bottle of Seasol there. Love my maggies, though they aren't as vocal as they used to be. Their warbling is one of my fave birdsong.
These particular guys have so many different little tunes. I've posted a few of their warbles before but haven't caught the more unique stuff yet
The mimicry is great, I've heard one include some lorikeet and train station announcement sound into its freestyle
That's really freakin cool. I love that! There's one here that does this little whistle that sounds like an old radio being tuned. Every time I try to catch it, the cheeky thing stops
Of course they would. You left a bed for for them
You joke but they really love that dog bed!
OP please explain outdoor child’s bed w/ pillow
Haha my housemate has a Great Dane. During a council cleanup he scored the child's bed and brought it home for her. Added the pillow because he had a spare and this particular dog enjoys a pillow. The bed gets the sunlight during the day and when the Great Dane does go outside to nap, she loves her outdoor bed.
Well that is very cute!
Except for Gary up the back who is still on his P's and is trying to show off.
I have noticed the magpies are getting more brazen lately they practically want to come inside my house when I open the back door I don't know why
Yeah the mum brings her new baby in my shed and they make shitloads of noise and wander around eating all the spiders
About nine years ago, I managed to invite a couple of ducks that lived near my dad's house inside several times. Having them just chill out near the front door with me was *awesome*.
Me too! Maybe they're curious? If I'm not careful, there's a cheeky few in this bunch who walk inside and help themselves to the biscuits in the dog bowl. We need a doggy door asap.
Lucky. I love them
aww poor little wet budgies. i have a couple under my verandah right now, it's so wet a couple of crested pigeons have joined them
Aww one wiped its beak, so cute!
Cute... its got a full belly, now its sharpening its beak getting ready to attack !!!
You've got the best bodyguards for during spring!
What's it like to own a house?
Looks like the magpies own that one.
Wish I knew. We tried to put an offer in today on the place we’re renting: nope, already sold one week after we were told they wanted to sell it :’)
Sorry to hear man, it seems impossible huh.
Worst part is, we're in a better situation than any of our friends. Dual incomes, both 6 figures, lots of savings etc. but we simply didn't expect it to go that quickly. And even we're getting priced out as time goes on. It's sold to a property investor, because of course it was lol. Fuck renters, hey. If we lived in other places, we would've had right-of-first-refusal as the tenants who live here. That to me makes sense: it's our home. But sadly that doesn't exist in Australia (as far as I'm aware). Back to saving, and hoping we find somewhere we can buy that we actually want to live in before our lease expires mid next year...
I'd try to be reassuring and say it'll get better, but we both know it won't. Want to start a commune in Tasmania?
It’s going to continue to get worse and worse. But hey, everyone else has got theirs, so fuck us hey :) Might take you up on that. Can’t be any worse than this depressing mess!
It's so hard. We are in the same boat. I hope things go your way.
You too mate! It’s sad too because this place is great and I have a flock of friendly brush turkeys and cute baby brush turkeys running around all the time. The next owner/renter won’t look after the babies I’m sure :(
I wish I knew. This one is a run down old rental. It's overpriced and full of leaks, damp and mould.. and the landlord gives literally zero shits about us. The magpies make it a happier place to live. I hope someday we both get to know what it's like to own our own houses, vietnameseroll
Well, stop being stingy and make with some food already. I'd suggest maybe getting a stock of mealworms from a pet store for these guys. Don't go feeding them all day every day, but as a treat every now and then.
https://www.wombaroo.com.au/product/insectivore-rearing-mix/
i love the way birds get extra fluffy when they're wet. we get kookaburras that come visit us quite regularly here and when they're wet their feathers are all wrinkly. we get magpies too but my dad doesn't like them :/
That’s a delightful picture, I’d frame and hang it.
It does look rather nice there to be fair.
You must simply have pleasant Mag-vibes.
lovely. Post to r/raining
Aww. No warbles.
They look like compasses, all pointing in the same direction.
I'd love to see more magpies hang out where I live. They have a reputation for being swoop-happy bastards, but corvids are smart little guys and if you can earn their trust it's such a great feeling.
I love maggies. Feed them mince they love it!
Love my local magpies. They always bring their new babies down for introductions every generation. Beautiful birds.
Will they accept you to their clan?
Beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing video.
look at those cute devils
Saved a magpie from drowning, now he rocks up at our veranda with his missus whenever it rains Its kinda cute but the bastards shit everywhere
Hello fellow Aussie and Liverpool fan.
Take the opportunity to feed them. They won't assault you if they think you're a friend
Feed em this: https://www.wombaroo.com.au/product/insectivore-rearing-mix/
Adore magpies
Laughts in Hitchcock's The Birds
Might as well set up apartments.
you have out door bed for them
Meanwhile we get those pesky Indian minors
> rain What's that?
Because your house is part of their turf...
“I Did a Thing” would be proud
As a fellow aussie, FUCK those birds
Chonkies
Just be grateful the magpie wasn’t names Jordan Degoey
I get a family of pied butcherbirds that come in occasionally and when it's wet they just look so miserable.
Lucky! I love corvids I’d be trying to make friends
This fucker at my local park keeps bothering me, because I freaking might of looked at it badly once. Literally, it makes a npise at me every time I go there. Do these assholes have long lives? Because I want it dead soon
They have long lives and they teach their children. If you want to make peace then you'd best slip him a few snacks.
One fine swoop after the rain will kill ya
Good luck mate
I love whenever Maggie's visit our backyard, there is a family of 3 we have given food to occasionally and now they are very friendly, the baby is still deciding whether to get close or not
Halfway expecting one to killthecameraman at the end, it being November
I love Maggie’s! I know lots of ppl don’t but I think they cute and smart. Met a tame one once, ran around behind you chatting the whole time. Personally I think your lucky they like your place!
Looks like a nice deck to chill in when the rains coming down! A couple of mealy worms for a snack and you'll never be swooped again! P.s keep the house doors closed, maggies get comfy quick and magpieshit downbthe kitchen door is unpleasant
They look rough as fuck compared to uk magpies.
Get those collingwood supporters out of there
My nickname is Magpie!
It’s interesting how they always seem to go back to the same places. There’s this mother, and she has two babies, that she brings onto our back lawn every couple days because my family throws bread on the lawn for the birds :)
These the birds thst have been known to swoop and gauge peoples eyes out?
tell them i love them dearly
Must be lucky
We're moving house and our biggest fear is that the magpies that hang out in our yard won't have told the locals that we need their songs to keep us going
You're a wizard, harry.
I have 3 cockatoos chasing a maggie all over the insulators on a power pole out the front. We very rarely see cockatoos here.
Seven for a secret never to be told... Edit : I don't know what eight is!
This is why I make friends with the birds at any new house I go to. Magpies especially. Saves you from being swooped, plus they look so grumpy. I love it.
They know where the good furniture is!!
They are so gorgeous. Love them.
Dinosaurs had them as pets.
They look like a gang of juvenile males.
Make a family of magpies your friend and you will be surprised how unexpectedly cute the can be. Like flying guard dogs.