Magpie mayhem is about to commence. Spring, the breeding season, brings on changes to these normally pleasant and useful birds, from doing good for the farm, into menacing airborne missiles.

Making Out Invaders

Believing their territory is being invaded, they appear from nowhere, usually swooping from behind – creating an instant sense of dread.

Wings flapping, claws extended, they have caused injury on occasion, but generally create a sense of unease when passing through their range.

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A simple magpie helmet--an ice cream container with large eyes drawn. A good activity for kids

A typical magpie nesting site is high up among gum tree canopies

Magpies are usually seen foraging in open areas. This is a male having white markings on its back. Females have a grey patch on their back

An offering of fresh minced meat and bread for my magpies

Magpies are quick to remember places where food is located. They respond well to feeding and will hang around if encouraged using food

This magpie is checking me closely using its right eye. The information is processed in its left brain

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Magpie On My Hobby Farm

My farm surrounds are a perfect habitat for extended magpie families. Open spaces are good for foraging, while large trees nearby make ideal nesting sites. These sociable birds have been studied widely and it seems they are much more intelligent than previously thought.

It has been suggested that they are capable of recognising human faces and can recall past events involving particular people.

My Pro-Active Respond

They are able to remember good and bad deeds and act accordingly. They also appear to have an aggressive response to people riding bikes during the breeding season.

Having been regularly swooped in the past, I have decided to be more pro-active this spring. A white hat with large eyes drawn on the back should make swooping magpies think twice before attacking.

My Peace Offering

An ice cream container has also been suggested as a lightweight helmet. If these simple measures fail, I will attempt to be nice to the local magpie clans – once their aggressive behaviour subsides at the end of spring.

A peace offering of minced meat and bread should put them into a more friendly mood and hopefully they will remember me next spring.

Watching With Right Eye

When cultivating soil on the farm, magpies will soon appear for a quick feed of exposed grubs, worms and insects. They usually keep their distance and are quick to make calls letting the rest of their extended family know if danger is present.

If they are using their right eye to observe you, it is likely that they are making observations in fine detail, as like humans, magpies have a left and right brain with many similar functions.

Unique Carols On My Hobby Farm

The farm would never be the same without the sight of these large black and white birds, their unique carols and their presence in most Australian landscapes.

Adding to the rich mix of animal and plant life in both rural and urban locations, their innate tendency to be nasty and unsociable in spring is small burden to bear.