Hi everyone. I have recently revived my membership here and I'm blown away by how the website has grown. This little story is part anecdote but your advice and comment would be appreciated . My story is about a very assertive female Murray Magpie. I have to admit I have been feeding her lately and have just read on this site about the health dangers of doing so. However it is Phoebe who started the whole thing by keeping me company on my back porch at meal times ! The jealous behaviour of my Jack Russell was no deterrent and in spite of the daily smattering of bird poo on my table I found her more than charming. I soon started feeding her of course (well of course ! ) However, recently on re entering the house after gardening on several occasions I found a trail of little silver blobs through my kitchen and dining room and realised that she had not only spent time in the house but cleverly found her way outside again and through the hanging beads at my back door. Twice I actually found her sitting in my lounge once on the arm of my lazy boy chair and on another occasion on the dining room table. Fortunately Max the Jack Russell wasn't around on those occasions. My main concern of course is that next time he will be around and that she will panic when he chases her and won't be able to find her way out - or worse end up in Max's tummy!
Pee wee or as you said Murray magpie are a very smart bird , but so is the jack Russell, time will tell . Any way keep us up to date, there are always winners and losers.....
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
I too was an avid feeder of maggies until I stumbled across this great site. One quickly becomes familiar with the controversy that surrounds this activity. I did some further research on Magpies and feeding and found this recipe which does require a bit of work but also gives one an insight into the nutritional requirements of a species which I found particularly enlightening. No doubt your Pheobie's requirements may well be different to the old Aussie Magpie but thought you might find it interesting none the less.
http://www.birdcare.asn.au/pdf/magpies.pdf
Please don't think I am passing judgement as that is the furthest thing from my mind. I have seen some strong opinions passed around upon this subject and I wouldn't want you to think that my agenda is such. I only wish to pass on something that I myself found enlightening.
All the best yourself and your feathered and furry friends.
Monti.
Thanks for the replies.. It seems pretty obvious except I couldn't find "white ..plumed honey Eater " listed in the books that. I have. I obviously need to update . Also the Yellow plumed Honey Eater is described as living in Mallee habitats and I live in a coastal area not very far South of Adelaide. Interesting. Thanks again for your replies.
Denise
Just put a reply here that should have been in a different topic. Sheesh, ! Technology.,
Denise
I can't work out how to do this! . No the above reply now seems in the right place. It had appeared under an old entry of mine. ???!
Denise
Completely bamboozled. Out of here.!
Denise
Interesting that recipe. Its not surprising that human handouts are unsuitable and I can imagine that calcium requirements would be high for many creatures. I remember many years ago there was a very large crocodile called Charlie kept in a tourist park north of Cairns. All his teeth had fallen out because he had been maintained on a diet of boned meat that provided no calcium.
The thought has occurred to me that since we're not all that flash at the quality of food we feed ourselves why would we be confident that we could adequately feed birds? Perhaps feeding of birds is best left to themselves, especially if there is sufficient good quality habitat for them.