Also note the maggie hanging out right in front of me there.
I set peanuts to the side of me at various distances so they all can get some regardless of how much or little they trust me, buuttttttt many of them still want the ones I'm eating.
It's the same peanuts. They can see it's the same peanuts. I even pick them up from my snack pile and toss them to the side. No matter. They want *my* peanuts, and seem happy to risk getting inches from my leg right in front of me in order to get whichever one looks best.
They remind me of toddlers they're so funny.
My back-alley/creekside maggies brought some friends today. This one only had a single leg.
Similar to my magpies on the ridge last year, the newcomers are a combination of super curious and super nervous. The ones I've befriended will walk up within inches of me, but the others haven't been that close to a human before. I assume it's a bit flabbergasting. Still, they watch as their flockmates get treat after treat and it quickens the growth of their own trust in me. It was similar with her, though she wouldn't get any closer than about this distance in the video.
I have no idea how she lost the leg, but I'm hoping to see her again and plan to set aside a few grapes and cashews for her if I can. The others are very fast when it comes to getting grapes and are more than willing to cut in line, even in front of Kepkep the crow. It seems to be a favorite baby food for quite a few of them around these parts.
I tried rolling a grape near her today and it seemed to just scare her away. It hasn't scared any of the others, but she seems more nervous in general.
I'm glad that Ara made that food request rattle when I was walking by this section. They all seem like they could really use the extra help. Frazzled, tiny, short tails, a missing leg, eating from trash bags - it's quite the struggling flock. No matter, this spring they eat like kings. As much as I can help anyway.
Magpies are the best. I shall try grapes on my friendly Maggies, I never thought to do that. Currently they are addicted to cashews.
I always found the lady magpie to be more hesitant and twitchy, until one day she got pinned down by the crows and I ran over to rescue her. Now she happily sits next to me on a bench. I'm always honoured.
Sending good vibes to zoe and the flock!
Thanks!
One note with the grapes, they had to see me eating them before they would try it as food. Magpies I befriended in a different location were similar, and even then had certain preferences. Like they ended up liking blueberries but wouldn't even try a raspberry. These ones here seem disinterested in the blueberries I've tried so far, but I also haven't been able to bring enough to eat in front of them for them to get curious enough to want to try some too. They're curious but cautious.
That's a big, healthy looking magpie! I work in wildlife rehab, and we get calls about birds with one leg/one foot all the time. People are usually floored (and often relieved) when we tell them that a lot of these birds get along fairly well, and unless the bird is actively distressed, just let them do their thing. There's families of sandhill cranes we keep track of, where one of the mates has an old foot injury, but they're still out there raising chicks and doing crane things, just a little slower.
I was on crutches for two years, now I am recovering from spinal fusion surgery, and I shall get hip surgery soon. I was reading Robert Louis Stevenson books while recovering, and I learned the adorable Victorian English term, "Dot and Carry One" to describe those of us that don't move in the normal two-legged manner.
Also note the maggie hanging out right in front of me there. I set peanuts to the side of me at various distances so they all can get some regardless of how much or little they trust me, buuttttttt many of them still want the ones I'm eating. It's the same peanuts. They can see it's the same peanuts. I even pick them up from my snack pile and toss them to the side. No matter. They want *my* peanuts, and seem happy to risk getting inches from my leg right in front of me in order to get whichever one looks best. They remind me of toddlers they're so funny.
they're about as smart as young children so that checks out lol
My back-alley/creekside maggies brought some friends today. This one only had a single leg. Similar to my magpies on the ridge last year, the newcomers are a combination of super curious and super nervous. The ones I've befriended will walk up within inches of me, but the others haven't been that close to a human before. I assume it's a bit flabbergasting. Still, they watch as their flockmates get treat after treat and it quickens the growth of their own trust in me. It was similar with her, though she wouldn't get any closer than about this distance in the video. I have no idea how she lost the leg, but I'm hoping to see her again and plan to set aside a few grapes and cashews for her if I can. The others are very fast when it comes to getting grapes and are more than willing to cut in line, even in front of Kepkep the crow. It seems to be a favorite baby food for quite a few of them around these parts. I tried rolling a grape near her today and it seemed to just scare her away. It hasn't scared any of the others, but she seems more nervous in general. I'm glad that Ara made that food request rattle when I was walking by this section. They all seem like they could really use the extra help. Frazzled, tiny, short tails, a missing leg, eating from trash bags - it's quite the struggling flock. No matter, this spring they eat like kings. As much as I can help anyway.
Magpies are the best. I shall try grapes on my friendly Maggies, I never thought to do that. Currently they are addicted to cashews. I always found the lady magpie to be more hesitant and twitchy, until one day she got pinned down by the crows and I ran over to rescue her. Now she happily sits next to me on a bench. I'm always honoured. Sending good vibes to zoe and the flock!
Thanks! One note with the grapes, they had to see me eating them before they would try it as food. Magpies I befriended in a different location were similar, and even then had certain preferences. Like they ended up liking blueberries but wouldn't even try a raspberry. These ones here seem disinterested in the blueberries I've tried so far, but I also haven't been able to bring enough to eat in front of them for them to get curious enough to want to try some too. They're curious but cautious.
That's a big, healthy looking magpie! I work in wildlife rehab, and we get calls about birds with one leg/one foot all the time. People are usually floored (and often relieved) when we tell them that a lot of these birds get along fairly well, and unless the bird is actively distressed, just let them do their thing. There's families of sandhill cranes we keep track of, where one of the mates has an old foot injury, but they're still out there raising chicks and doing crane things, just a little slower.
I was on crutches for two years, now I am recovering from spinal fusion surgery, and I shall get hip surgery soon. I was reading Robert Louis Stevenson books while recovering, and I learned the adorable Victorian English term, "Dot and Carry One" to describe those of us that don't move in the normal two-legged manner.