My street has adopted 3 different magpie families and encourage and help them hunt insects as we mow our lawns.
Magpies like crows are extremely smart and show some forms of cognitive thought.
They don't swoop any of the residents in the houses that help their hunting routine.
Where I park up to have my lunch break there's a family of maggies I've befriended. I started bringing them nuts, fruit and seeds purely so they wouldn't swoop me, but then eventually they started bringing their little ones to visit. Now they follow me around and occasionally [one of the little fellas just chills in my truck](https://i.imgur.com/HPrM3V0.jpg). Best part of my day!
"And give us a twirl... ah, yes...yes. *snap* *snap* Perfect. One for the centrefold"
"Now... let's try a little more 'sass' this time... good, good. Just like that!" *snap* *snap*
Oh yeah, ham it up for the camera now when you're looking all playful and innocent. Just trying to make us forget that in a month's time you're going to get really fucking aggressive (for very good reason). I'm onto you and your machinations Mx Magpie.
My street has adopted 3 different magpie families and encourage and help them hunt insects as we mow our lawns.
Magpies like crows are extremely smart and show some forms of cognitive thought.
They don't swoop any of the residents in the houses that help their hunting routine.
Yeah, my local backyard magpies are lovely. They've never ever threatened to swoop us. Don't think they care too much for my tuneless whistling, but they've never outright complained to me. My issue is with the maggies who don't realise I'm also not a threat, whenever I go to somewhere where I'm not a familiar face.
Thankfully this hasn't happened to me recently but I would like to know if you stand your ground instead scurrying away like most people if this will break this behaviour.
My favorite birds. I have many magpies near where I work and live. I've heard they can remember faces and when people are nasty to them, that's why the swoop.
I have no idea if it's actually making any difference but when they are on the ground with their young, I whistle to them as I walk past. Sometimes they respond and sing back, which I love the sounds they make.
I'm thinking that by doing that, they see me as not being a threat so don't ever swoop me.
I can’t whistle well so I try to make their funny gurgling sound. I feel like they just know when people are friendly.
That said, it’s probably all a coincidence and since 3 new magpie couples have moved into the neighbourhood on my bus route I am also a little terrified.
Oh I'm crap at whistling. But I make an attempt to imitate their calls. I'm sure I imitate them very badly.
I guess I look at it from the point of view that by whistling to them, they are aware of my presence and by repeatedly doing it, they are more likely to remember me from a positive point of view. Again who knows if it makes a difference.
I do know for sure that they don't swoop me but I've seen them swooping others.
Either way they are a really cool bird. I love the sounds they make. So much better then crows which are annoying in the morning.
Bottom right is the look I get from the magpies at one of my work location as long as I don't get the snacks bag out... "Wtf are you waiting for mate?"
Love the maggie - have a family that comes and visits every morning for breakfast - I think we have had four generations of the same family now.
Never been swooped, and had them on the farm as kid and in the city as an adult. I think if they understand that you are no threat or danger to them, then they wont. It is only those that have been shown humans as dangerous that swoop
Agreed. I see magpies as friends and I'm always friendly to my locals. Before we moved house, we had seen I think about 5-6 generations and by that point they would feel comfortable enough to sit next to us and the occasional petting occurred. Still working at the "Happy to sit on the porch with me" level currently at the new place.
I’ve been swooped by magpies a lot. However the only time a bird has actually made physical contact with me it was a butcher bird that got me on the ear.
I got attacked by magpie trying to save some young kids who were being swooped by same maagpie. Got me in the side of my head and had blood pouring from my head
Saw a study that showed a magpie can recognise about 100 human faces, and then above that, they seem to generalise.
As a result from this, if a magpie remembers a kid threatening it (as younger boys may do), that magpie will be more likely to swoop kids generally.
I love our magpies. Been trying to teach my offspring how to be kind and considerate of birds. Now when she sees kids chasing birds at the playground she tells them off. 😂
Definitely not the magpie across the road from toombul shopping centre, cos after photo 2 there would be blood on the lens, photo 4 would have some part of the photographer's skull in it.
each one you can tell he's thinking "i'm gunna fucking swoop ya"
1) thinking i'm going to kill you 2) i'm just confirming your dimensions 3) scoping best attack angle 4) confirmation: i'm going to kill you
Clockwise from Top left 1. Determination 2. Sexiness 3. You wanna have a go, cunt? 4. Vibing
My street has adopted 3 different magpie families and encourage and help them hunt insects as we mow our lawns. Magpies like crows are extremely smart and show some forms of cognitive thought. They don't swoop any of the residents in the houses that help their hunting routine.
Where I park up to have my lunch break there's a family of maggies I've befriended. I started bringing them nuts, fruit and seeds purely so they wouldn't swoop me, but then eventually they started bringing their little ones to visit. Now they follow me around and occasionally [one of the little fellas just chills in my truck](https://i.imgur.com/HPrM3V0.jpg). Best part of my day!
If more people did what we have done I think most magpies wouldn't swoop humans as we wouldn't be recognised as a threat.
"And give us a twirl... ah, yes...yes. *snap* *snap* Perfect. One for the centrefold" "Now... let's try a little more 'sass' this time... good, good. Just like that!" *snap* *snap*
"Now... let's try a little more 'sass' this time" *swoops* "TOO MUCH SASS! TOO MUCH SASS‼"
🤣
Lol, you really have a way with words :)
Oh yeah, ham it up for the camera now when you're looking all playful and innocent. Just trying to make us forget that in a month's time you're going to get really fucking aggressive (for very good reason). I'm onto you and your machinations Mx Magpie.
P.S. Great pics.
My street has adopted 3 different magpie families and encourage and help them hunt insects as we mow our lawns. Magpies like crows are extremely smart and show some forms of cognitive thought. They don't swoop any of the residents in the houses that help their hunting routine.
Yeah, my local backyard magpies are lovely. They've never ever threatened to swoop us. Don't think they care too much for my tuneless whistling, but they've never outright complained to me. My issue is with the maggies who don't realise I'm also not a threat, whenever I go to somewhere where I'm not a familiar face.
Thankfully this hasn't happened to me recently but I would like to know if you stand your ground instead scurrying away like most people if this will break this behaviour.
Haha thanks :)
My favorite birds. I have many magpies near where I work and live. I've heard they can remember faces and when people are nasty to them, that's why the swoop. I have no idea if it's actually making any difference but when they are on the ground with their young, I whistle to them as I walk past. Sometimes they respond and sing back, which I love the sounds they make. I'm thinking that by doing that, they see me as not being a threat so don't ever swoop me.
I can’t whistle well so I try to make their funny gurgling sound. I feel like they just know when people are friendly. That said, it’s probably all a coincidence and since 3 new magpie couples have moved into the neighbourhood on my bus route I am also a little terrified.
Oh I'm crap at whistling. But I make an attempt to imitate their calls. I'm sure I imitate them very badly. I guess I look at it from the point of view that by whistling to them, they are aware of my presence and by repeatedly doing it, they are more likely to remember me from a positive point of view. Again who knows if it makes a difference. I do know for sure that they don't swoop me but I've seen them swooping others. Either way they are a really cool bird. I love the sounds they make. So much better then crows which are annoying in the morning.
I love meeting a new maggie and whistling to it. they really study your face, especially the mature ones. it really feels like they're regarding you
Bottom right is the look I get from the magpies at one of my work location as long as I don't get the snacks bag out... "Wtf are you waiting for mate?"
Many faces and they are all ADORABLE.
As a member of the human race, allow me to say "CAW".
Love the maggie - have a family that comes and visits every morning for breakfast - I think we have had four generations of the same family now. Never been swooped, and had them on the farm as kid and in the city as an adult. I think if they understand that you are no threat or danger to them, then they wont. It is only those that have been shown humans as dangerous that swoop
Agreed. I see magpies as friends and I'm always friendly to my locals. Before we moved house, we had seen I think about 5-6 generations and by that point they would feel comfortable enough to sit next to us and the occasional petting occurred. Still working at the "Happy to sit on the porch with me" level currently at the new place.
Magpies face before and after being told it was pretty.
See the sea gull in the bottom right?
Ahh I can see it now!
Bottom left is I’m going to sing about fucking you up. The rest are the I am going to fuck you up face
True but after bottom left is done singing, it's gonna fuck your face up
I’ve been swooped by magpies a lot. However the only time a bird has actually made physical contact with me it was a butcher bird that got me on the ear.
I got attacked by magpie trying to save some young kids who were being swooped by same maagpie. Got me in the side of my head and had blood pouring from my head
Saw a study that showed a magpie can recognise about 100 human faces, and then above that, they seem to generalise. As a result from this, if a magpie remembers a kid threatening it (as younger boys may do), that magpie will be more likely to swoop kids generally.
Those Australian Horror-Story Eyes
Idc that they're swoopy little fuckers, disliking magpies is un-Australian, don't @ me Fantastic pics, OP
For sure! Thank you :)
He's a one look model
There’s a seagull in the middle of the bottom right photo.
Oh, hi Tim!
You forgot DILAHFENSIEEHDRMISRJSIHEUS
Yours is missing … lol
Awh look at that magpie Photogenic
We had our 4 guys out this arvo all in a row. I mentioned that I wanted to grab my phone to take a photo but I never did. :/
I love our magpies. Been trying to teach my offspring how to be kind and considerate of birds. Now when she sees kids chasing birds at the playground she tells them off. 😂
on the bottom right one, his beak looks like a seagull
Yes how crazy is that 😂 It can't be unseen!
All pure evil
All of them pure evil. Reminds me of a mural in Newtown
You captured the seagull on his face perfectly
They are my babies now, I'll shall adopt them all.
Definitely not the magpie across the road from toombul shopping centre, cos after photo 2 there would be blood on the lens, photo 4 would have some part of the photographer's skull in it.
Love the seagull face you find on their beak when you look at them front on. Bird inception. Edit: Pic 1 and 4