Perth couple find bird using their underwear for nest

THEY may not be budgie smugglers — but one little bird has picked this pair of jocks as the perfect home.

Shannon Hampton

PerthNow NOVEMBER 10, 20187:15PM

They may not be budgie smugglers — but one little bird has picked this pair of jocks as the perfect cradle for its eggs.

Uta and Robert Fielding were “gobsmacked” when they discovered a grey honeyeater nesting in the crotch of a pair of well-worn blue undies hanging on their clothesline two weeks ago.

“You could have blown me over with a feather,” Mr Fielding, of Ballajura, said.

“I thought it was the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’ve never heard of birds nesting in underwear before — never mind my old jocks.”

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A Perth council is swooping in on the magpie epidemic in a particular park

AN aggressive magpie has left two young children with horrific eye injuries. But a quirk in the law may mean nothing is done.

Shireen Khalil

news.com.au SEPTEMBER 28, 20187:14AM

THERE is one magpie causing extreme havoc in the City of Stirling in Perth and the council wants a license to cull the offending bird.

The council took action after attacks in Clarko Reserve, a grassy beachside park, left two Perth children with severe eye injuries and others with scratched faces.

City of Stirling parks and sustainability manager Ian Hunter said the council would apply to the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions to eradicate the offending bird.

“After assessing events over the weekend, the City has determined that recent magpie attacks at Clarko Reserve have been ongoing and of a serious nature, and will apply to DBCA for a dangerous fauna licence to remove the offending bird,” Mr Hunter said in a statement.

A DBCA spokesman told news.com.au that once a license is approved, an animal control agent will conduct an assessment of the problem magpie and if deemed a threat, it will then be taken out with a firearm.

“As assessment is made on site. No bird is ever destroyed without an assessment being made,” the spokesperson said. “Generally the control agent will visit the location, and watch its behaviour, signs of swooping and aggression.”

Mr Hunter added that if there was evidence of ongoing aggressive behaviour from magpies in a City park or reserve, the City could investigate and work with the DBCA to discuss preventive measures, going forward.

Perth Now reported that a magpie narrowly missed a five-year-old’s eye when it swooped her yesterday in Clarko Reserve, near where two small children were pecked in the eyes just days before.

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Mystery illness strikes Perth's bird population, leaving experts baffled

By Charlotte Hamlyn

Posted 10 Apr 2018, 10:24pm

A mystery illness is striking down birds across Perth, with experts no closer to knowing the cause.

Wildlife centres have been inundated with magpies, mudlarks, and ravens suffering from a form of paralysis that causes weakness in their legs and wings, poor responsiveness, and clenched feet leaving them unable to stand.

Helen Riley from Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Lesmurdie said she had seen 14 cases in the past few months.

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Toddler injured in 'unusual' magpie attack

Alexandra Ristway, Seven News, PerthNow

September 19, 2017 11:31am

A TWO-year-old girl is Perth’s latest magpie attack victim, but experts say the offending bird is exhibiting “really unusual behaviour”.

Little Asha O’Leary was at the Jackadder Lake in Woodlands when the magpie attacked her – flying at her from the ground.

“I can’t work it out,” Asha’s mum Helen said.

“She was just on her scooter and it was coming up from the ground.”

The Innaloo mother took a video of her daughter’s injuries to show as a warning to other parents.

“My biggest fear is that (the magpie) might attack more kids,” she said.

“I know of about four other attacks through Facebook, within only two days by the same bird.”

Ms O’Leary said the offending bird was easily identifiable because it was missing part of its beak.

“Usually when a magpie’s being aggressive, it’s a swooping behaviour,” UWA ecologist Dr Amanda Ridley said.

“Jumping up from the ground is a really unusual behaviour.”

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