Magpie hissy fit

[fridgeways]

BROOOOO DOWNNNNNNNN

[hierba73]

thats not a friendly fight, they will fight to the death, i stopped a fight like that, nurtured the injured one back to health, called it groover (he loved to sing and dance)

but he never learnt to fly again

[SlimeAmTheBest]

@hierba73 yes and the grey noisy miners at the top monitor predator birds at often times

[EnlightenedAzn]

"Why are you idiots fighting each other?! Can't you see humans are our enemies? I mean just look at that creepy filming you guys!"

[Tactual]

Uh! Myna birds! I hate them so much!

[thebeautifuldreamful]

Aw thats actually really cute lol : D

[shanemz01]

those birds that where hovering above the maggies. they swoop more then magpies and they make this really bad screeching sound. i hate em

[benmboard]

@shanemz01 pigeons? 

[IncidentalStrum]

That's a Rook. 

[nickynoo75]

No, that is a Magpie

[SIM2402]

What's this crap about habitat? They live quite happily in any urban area I've seen. I believe the reason the magpies were attacking each other is because the children have grown up and mum & dad are kicking them out of home!!!

[ShadowriverUB]

@SIM2402 Well if they act like European magpies, they showing of social dominance or other magpie come near there nest territory

[modhsvtimo]

DO you seriously have a life?

[anotherholywar]

shut up

[Sillybilly114]

I have 2 noisy Miners that constantly fly around with my magpie family. It really annoys them. We also have a Butcher Bird follow as it has realized the Magpies get food off us!

[biancaleew]

oh my gosh!!! you dont understand how scared i am right now!

[thecharlotteness]

Scared? Magpies are beautiful, you should hear them early in the morning just as you wake up, wonderful sound!

[SPLIMLETLET]

I agree, Maggies are great.

[yhshvh10]

bird phobia perhaps?

[slayguitarist]

Obviously you and thecharlotteness have never been swooped by a magpie on a bike as a kid

[SnakeDangerous]

even though this is posted 3 months ago i like to still comment.

Dude your either near its nest or it was magpie season. your fault. besides that

magpies are lovely

[ThInTrM]

SnakeDangerous: Replying to your own comment a month out:

I've heard that Australian Magpies are commonplace in cities down under, and that they tend to nest and breed in public parks as well as roadside trees.

I've seen videos of breeding Aussie Magpies that show how relentless and aggressive they are to humans minding their own business.

Are you saying that humans will always be at fault, even when magpies nest in public urban areas?

If your answer is "yes," I strongly disagree.

[SnakeDangerous]

Well if you put it that way.

Then my answer is No. :)

[SandraFowler]

@ThInTrM , When we move into cities, is it up to the magpies to either completely change their evolved habits or to get out? If so - where will the Magpies go when humans have urbanized their entire habitat?

They are very commonplace here and they do tend to nest and breed in public parks and roadside trees - that's true. But with a little common sense, people can easily avoid most magpie swoopings and they tend to do just that.

[SandraFowler]

@ThInTrM

Keeping in mind that a fairly small percentage of magpies WILL behave so aggressively during breeding season - less than 9% - it's not nearly as common as you might think. I've lived here 7 years and have been swooped once.

The government warns about a magpie nest by putting up signs and locals know that to avoid magpie attacks while taking a walk or riding a bike they should take an umbrella or paint large eyes on the top of their helmet.

[SandraFowler]

@ThInTrM Putting zip ties on your helmet also prevents attacks. With a little forethought, magpie attacks can be avoided.

So if people aren't heeding signs, aren't taking precautions and are willfully invading a known magpie nesting area - I think that it is the human's fault.

[ThInTrM]

SandraFowler: I've seen videos of people attempting various remedies to waring off magpie attacks, including zip ties and large painted eyes. None of them worked.

Also, I'm fairly certain that Australia is not a continental metropolis. Australian Magpies cover most of Australia, while urban areas make up a small fraction of the land mass.

To claim that Australian Magpies are in danger of losing their habitat is absurd, more so than the claim that humans are always at fault when attacked.

[SandraFowler]

I've seen people in person attempting various remedies to warding off magpie attacks and they work quite well most of the time.

You're right that Australia is not a continental metropolis and magpies will live over most of the continent. And they won't lose their entire habitat, certainly, but they will lose some. Is that acceptable? I don't think so.

I also don't think it's okay to blame animals for instinctive behavior when we're in their habitat.

[ThInTrM]

SandraFowler: And yet it's our habitat, too. We're creatures of the Earth, just like everything else on the planet.

Why are humans to blame when magpies move into trees of an urban neighborhood and begin attacking passerby that are minding their own business?

I find that reasoning highly annoying.

[SandraFowler]

Because magpies, unlike people, don't willfully destroy everything they get their hands on. I'm not saying that all people are destructive - but as a species, we do tend to lay waste to our surroundings. We tend to move in and stomp around in our territory without a thought of what's around us and what might be affected - much less so now than we once did, but the effects can be seen.

If the magpies are to blame, what do you suggest be done about them? What's the proper solution?

[ThInTrM]

SandraFowler: Given the ubiquity of conservation programs and attempts to reintroduce endangered species back into the wild, I don't prescribe to the idea that humans "mindlessly consume everything."

As far as what can be done about them, perhaps behavioral training a la Joshua Klein's "vending machine" for crows. I know Aussie Magpies aren't corvids, but I've heard stories of their cleverness and can learn.

Maybe they can be taught to leave humans alone.

[SandraFowler]

Regarding teaching magpies to leave humans alone on the basis of an entire species - what you're suggestion is evolution and it's not likely.

You're right, they're not corvids and they are very clever - they're also, for the most part, not highly aggressive.  As I said, only a rather small percentage swoop people.

[ThInTrM]

SandraFowler: Also, I submit gib395's video "Killer Magpie" on account of the uneffectiveness of helmet adornments.

You may claim that they work quite well most of the time, but I feel that video shows otherwise.

[SandraFowler]

Yes, and I'm certain that the hundreds of thousands of times it does work, someone felt it was noteworthy enough to take a video of someone not getting attacked. If youtube is your only experience with magpies, you're not really getting anything like a full story - people are only going to post videos that they believe others will find noteworthy, entertaining or informative - they're not going to post a video of the many, many times nothing happens because it worked.

[ThInTrM]

SandraFowler: And what about the non-video accounts of people I've seen who complain of magpie attacks--including the occasional magpie-related injuries? Are you going to dismiss them out of hand as well?

Behavioral training isn't the same thing as evolution. If Aussie Magpies are intelligent enough, they can be taught new behaviors, and may teach their children. If you haven't watched Joshua Klein's TED talk, I suggest you do so.

[SandraFowler]

And this discussion is pointless and is going nowhere. I am going to bed. Come to Australia and experience magpies before you make judgements about them.

[Springlovepopday]

lol... nature of magpies

[kinghitz]

They are young ones. Just sorting out the hierarchy. The noisy minars don't help, of course.

[falsebaroness]

interesting.

[BettyCallMeAl]

they are such funny birds. i should have kept the camera on longer as the way they behaved when the dad was around was really funny, but i missed it!

[tall32guy]

It does sound cute and funny. :) I like watching animals do funny little things like this. :)