Magpies
Magpies are one of my favorite birds. They also inspire strong emotions in humans. They are familiar in the Bear Lake valley and
across the West. They are not found in
the eastern states. Magpies are intelligent, adaptable and bold. These attributes they are both admired and
loathed. They are considered an
annoyance and inconvenience by some they're also highly social may leave gifts
for humans that feed them. Like other
intelligent opportunistic corvids (ravens, crows, jays) magpies take advantage
of resources whenever they can find them.
Magpies are probably known to scavenge garbage, eat carrion, and steal
poorly guarded pet food and raid picnics. This gives the birds a bad reputation
and many people consider them as pests. People
used to believe that they drank cow’s blood but in fact they were up on the
back of the cow just picking ticks off it.
They have a special place in mythology as well. Magpies are recognized as messengers by numerous
indigenous cultures in North America. They would spread air to humans or carry news
within the Creator. A widespread story is how magpies were helping humans and
birds alike and were given the honor of the wearing the rainbow of iridescence on
the bird's tails and wings.
They are interesting birds with a complex life history. They build reusable, large, dome shaped nests and parents aggressively protect their young. The young birds are vocal and may drive you crazy with their squawking. A group of magpies may come together with other family groups to “mob” other birds and animals. Magpies are one of the few species that hold funerals. When one of them dies, it will be surrounded by up flock that makes a ruckus of sounds for fifteen minutes before becoming silent and flying off. Take some time and watch their antics and behavior. You may even learn to like them as I do.
No comments:
Post a Comment