One for sorrow, dozens for joy: Bird-loving woman spends time socialising with 50 magpies every morning - and says it helps her relax

Caring woman started feeding an injured magpie and now finds yard overrun 

Up to 50 magpies are waiting for her at 5.30 in the morning for breakfast

Woman thinks birds are hungry because of the drought and bush fires

Neighbours have joined in feeding the birds and aren't bothered by noise

By KYLIE WALTERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 03:17, 4 December 2019 | UPDATED: 07:39, 4 December 2019

A bird loving woman who started caring for an injured magpie now finds her home inundated with them in the early hours of every morning. 

The woman, who lives in Oxenford in Queensland, doesn't mind the early wake up call and finds it  ''relaxing' to start each morning spending time with the birds.  

 'I usually get up at 5.30 in the morning and come out with my coffee and they are here waiting for me' Collette Dunn told 7 news. 

Each morning when Colette comes out with her morning coffee, she founds dozens of magpies waiting for breakfast

With a gourmet menu on offer each morning including dried crickets, meals worms, sunflower seeds, oats and premium mince, it is no wonder the birds keep returning for more. 

Good samaritan Colette started feeding the magpies after she found an injured one in her backyard. 

'It all started with one that we started feeding that had a broken beak. He told his friends!' she told the ABC. 

Continued

A cyclist suffered an anaphylactic reaction after being attacked by a magpie.

'It smashed me really hard': Cyclist suffers an anaphylactic reaction after magpie swooped and scratched her face while she was cycling

Mellissa Gregory was bike riding with partner when she was attacked by magpie 

She claims the bird swooped and drew blood from her face causing it to swell

She was rushed to hospital leaving doctors confused over anaphylactic reaction 

By SAHAR MOURAD FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 14:37, 2 November 2019 | UPDATED: 14:37, 2 November 2019

Mellissa Gregory was bike riding with her partner at Chelsea's Bicentennial Park in Melbourne's south when a magpie swooped and attacked her face three times.

She claims the bird drew blood from her face causing it to swell from an allergic reaction. 

'Out of nowhere I just get hit in the side of the face,' she told 7NEWS.

'Next thing I know there's just blood everywhere... It honestly smashed into me really hard.'

Ms Gregory was rushed to hospital and doctors were left confused over the anaphylactic reaction. 

Continued

Some songbird nests are especially vulnerable to magpie predation

MAY 29, 2019

by University of Exeter

A new study has revealed a range of factors that cause a variation in predation by magpies on farmland songbirds.

Researchers from University of Exeter and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) placed 460 artificial nests on typical farmland in Warwickshire to study predator behaviour.

They found magpies were the most common predators, accounting for 70% of visits where the predator could be identified.

Nests inside magpie breeding territories were predated by magpies more often, especially late in the season when magpies themselves had young in their nests.

Intriguingly, some specific nest locations were repeatedly highly predated.

The findings come amid controversy over the rules governing which birds can be killed to protect wild birds, crops and livestock.

"This works suggests that, although most nest predators are magpies, not all magpies are nest predators," said Dr. Joah Madden, of the University of Exeter.

Read on

Albino magpie in Tasmanian wildlife sanctuary 'one in a million', keepers say

By Charley Rico

Updated 24 May 2019, 5:09am

A "one-in-a-million" albino magpie has been found living in Tasmania's north.

Key points:

Keepers say the magpie would not survive in the wild because its white coat would make it a target for predators

The bird is "an absolute character" and "prefers to be handfed despite being able to feed himself"

Experts say there are no accurate statistics that show how common albinism is in birds, but that social media has helped draw our attention to uncommon plumages

Instead of making its home in a suburban backyard, the unnamed bird lives alongside a yellow-tailed black cockatoo in the Trowunna Wildlife Park.

The young male was handed in as a fledgling bird late last year, and has been unable to be released into the wild.

"It was found at the base of a tree with no possibility of getting back to the nest," operations manager Darren Rumble said.

"As soon as we had the bird brought in, we knew we'd be taking care of him for his whole life — if we let him go, he won't last more than a day."

Due to the albino magpie's white pigmentation, Mr Rumble said it was susceptible to a high rate of predation.

"He'd be a prime target for crows or any other bird of prey," he said.

"He is a genuine albino and the statistics around a genuine albino magpie are around one in a million.

"You do see other forms of colour dysmorphia called leucism but that's a dilution of the dark pigment which can go into a creamy colour of the feathers, but the bird will still have normal coloured legs, beak and eyes.

"He's got the total absence of the pigment."

Read on

'Very dangerous, aggressive' magpie to be relocated

8th Nov 2018 1:00 PM | Updated: 1:33 PM

UPDATE, 2.30pm: LISMORE City Council's environmental strategies coordinator, Leonie Walsh, said she could understand people's concerns about plans to relocate an aggressive magpie.

But she said although dangerous behaviour was rare in birds, when it occurred it was important the bird was relocated.

"It's understandable people are concerned about interfering with birds and they are correct this is natural bird behaviour," she said.

"However, both Griffith University and the University of New England have done research over the years to develop ways to safely trap and relocate them; if they are relocated at least 50km away, the bird won't come back and will adapt fairly well and find a new family."

Ms Walsh said it was usually the male showing the aggressive behaviour.

"When he is removed another male will usually move straight in," she said.

"He is so pleased with the opportunity that in most cases will look after he family better than his predecessor and with less aggression."

Original story: A "VERY aggressive" magpie will be moved from Spinks Park next week after Lismore City Council received a number of complaints.

The council posted the news on its Facebook page today.

"We will be relocating a very aggressive magpie from Spinks Park next week but in the meantime please avoid this area," they wrote.

"The bird is having a go at anyone walking/cycling along the path behind the old gallery building, through the rose garden and near the kids playground.

"We are awaiting approval and will relocate the bird as soon as possible."

The post attracted a lot of comments from people who were concerned about the magpie being moved.

Continued  

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.

Continued  

Magpie edges out white ibis and kookaburra as Australian bird of the year

Top three birds all backed by more than 10,000 votes in Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia poll that attracted 150,000 votes

Calla Wahlquist

Sunday 10 December 2017 23.54 GMTLast modified on Monday 11 December 2017 06.09 GMT

The Australian magpie has been crowned Australian bird of the year for 2017, upsetting the early favourite, the white ibis, and winning 13.3% of the vote.

The magpie received 19,926 votes, followed by the Australian white ibis with 19,083 votes and the laughing kookaburra with 10,953 votes.

They were the only three species to win more than 10,000 votes, to the chagrin of fairywren supporters who feel the chubby little blue bird was robbed. The fairywren vote was split between the east and west coasts, with the east coast superb fairywren getting 6,366 votes and fifth place and Western Australia’s splendid fairywren coming 10th with 4,129 votes.

The superb fairywren won BirdLife Australia’s bird of the year poll in 2013.

It is the first year the BirdLife poll has been run in conjunction with Guardian Australia. Almost 150,000 votes were received before the polls closed on Saturday.

The result was the subject of some criticism, called either a boring choice or an unworthy one given the magpie’s propensity to swoop anyone who crosses their territory in spring.

BirdLife’s Sean Dooley, speaking on ABC News Breakfast, said despite their violent reputation magpies had cleverly befriended a number of humans, which may have swayed the vote.

Continued  

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.”

Readmore 

Clever Bird: Magpie Mimics Human Child

14:29 22.11.2015(updated 14:31 22.11.2015) 

Magpie learned to copy human speech.

Turns out that parrots aren't the only avians capable of imitating human speech. Check out how this magpie can mimic a child's laughter.

Source … 

Incoming! Magpie's attacking frenzy captured on GoPro attached to a cyclist's helmet

Trent Nicholson was attacked on his bike near Wollongong, NSW

Magpie breeding season began in September and will shortly end

Birds swoop to protect their young and its the males who defend the nest

The best way to deal with magpies is to protect your head and your eyes

By SARAH DEAN and LOUISE CHEER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 02:54, 7 October 2014 | UPDATED: 11:26, 7 October 2014

A man has filmed the terrifying moment he was attacked by a dive-bombing magpie as he cycled along the street.

Trent Nicholson captured the black and white bird swooping and pecking his helmet six times in a short video he filmed with his GoPro camera.

Even a mouthful of worms didn’t stop the magpie from its frenzied assault.

Mr Nicholson said he was cycling down Shellharbour Rd, in Shellharbour, near Wollongong, NSW, when the lone bird took aim.

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