A lovely essay this week, Alia. The magpie, they have a special place in our hearts, their warbling is the sound of home, but they are also quite ferocious during nesting season. I’m glad the magpies in your garden are good neighbours! I haven’t heard about meeting circles, and peeking punishments, so interesting. I had read about magpies coming together to mourn a dead friend, bringing flowers and placing them with the deceased bird. Our feathered friends are wonderful and fascinating. Hope you are having a lovely week x
Aww, bringing flowers to the dead is so beautiful, and so human! I had never heard that. It's strange, because I was thinking how the pecking circle sounds so similar to some justice systems in Australia's First Nations groups, where the guilty person stands in the centre of a circle and is speared, mostly just to wound. And I had wondered who had come up with that first, the people or the birds. Magpies are so smart, I wouldn't be surprised if they had learnt some behaviours from people.
Such a lovely tribute to your neighbors. I love my urban bird friends. The crows and I have a morning chat. Cardinals follow me. Sparrows continue dirt bathing if I make kissing sounds. Pigeons will allow me to pick them up and move them from the street. And the sweet robins...
Thank you, Rena. That is so cute about the sparrows. And the pigeons! It is special when we connect with other creatures on levels beyond words. I'm lucky to have many birds in my garden, too.
Comparison is the thief of joy, (as someone, probably you? told me) but I still delight in how different, bold and in-your-face Australian birds are compared to those from my native England.
I have to say, though, I like British magpies every bit as much as Aussie ones. They’re less musical, being crows rather than butcherbirds, but at least as clever, more light-fingered (light-beaked?) and very pretty. They also have a starring role in the Detectorists, just about my favourite British comedy drama ever. And they have a special place in English folklore: https://youtu.be/w6EIFD80f90?si=l53N3Dxq6TGuSK3A
Michelle, how lovely to see your name pop up here! Thank you for your kind words. I hope you are doing well. It's been a long time since we have bumped into each other.
My family and I have been sailing around the South Pacific for the last four years. So I've only been in a town for short stints. We're finishing up in November and so I may be there more often. I would love to have coffee with you next time I'm there!
Woah! That sounds incredible Michelle. 4 years! Where does time go?! I'm often late to the party, but I completely missed the boat on that one, haha. Absolutely would love to catch up and hear what you've been up to next time you swing by.
I used to think that magpies had gotten a bad rap after I read an interview with Jimmy Page in which he said that “some thieving magpie” had stolen one of his favorite guitars and taken it back to his nest. But after learning that one of these dirty birds considered stealing a patch of fur from your cat I decided that the reputation is well deserved. I’m sure glad that bird, feline, fur, nest and Alia are all doing well. Thank you for sharing your keen powers of observation and your love for all the creatures around your neck of the woods. A great gift you have there, and your listeners and readers are all the better off for it. I know I am. With much gratitude, respect and love—Rafael.
Thank you, Rafael. They can be terrors this time of year. There is one that lives along the bike path into town and dive bombs us (and everybody else) every time we ride past, there and back! It only ever pecked me once though. It doesn't bother me too much. I figure I'm wearing a helmet anyway 😂
I don’t think I could venture out onto that path without being dressed like a Hell’s Angel. I’d have nightmares about birds and their reptilian [shiver] ancestors.
I haven't had the pleasure of spending time with a British magpie (none that I'm aware of), but I have heard they are very charismatic, as you say. Hopefully I'll get that chance one day. I'd love to do some of those long walks across the UK.
That's a lovely song, too. Thanks for sharing it.
I have come across that saying about comparison here, too, although not from me. It's a great line. I wish I had said it 😂
A lovely essay this week, Alia. The magpie, they have a special place in our hearts, their warbling is the sound of home, but they are also quite ferocious during nesting season. I’m glad the magpies in your garden are good neighbours! I haven’t heard about meeting circles, and peeking punishments, so interesting. I had read about magpies coming together to mourn a dead friend, bringing flowers and placing them with the deceased bird. Our feathered friends are wonderful and fascinating. Hope you are having a lovely week x
Aww, bringing flowers to the dead is so beautiful, and so human! I had never heard that. It's strange, because I was thinking how the pecking circle sounds so similar to some justice systems in Australia's First Nations groups, where the guilty person stands in the centre of a circle and is speared, mostly just to wound. And I had wondered who had come up with that first, the people or the birds. Magpies are so smart, I wouldn't be surprised if they had learnt some behaviours from people.
Such a lovely tribute to your neighbors. I love my urban bird friends. The crows and I have a morning chat. Cardinals follow me. Sparrows continue dirt bathing if I make kissing sounds. Pigeons will allow me to pick them up and move them from the street. And the sweet robins...
Thank you, Rena. That is so cute about the sparrows. And the pigeons! It is special when we connect with other creatures on levels beyond words. I'm lucky to have many birds in my garden, too.
Comparison is the thief of joy, (as someone, probably you? told me) but I still delight in how different, bold and in-your-face Australian birds are compared to those from my native England.
I have to say, though, I like British magpies every bit as much as Aussie ones. They’re less musical, being crows rather than butcherbirds, but at least as clever, more light-fingered (light-beaked?) and very pretty. They also have a starring role in the Detectorists, just about my favourite British comedy drama ever. And they have a special place in English folklore: https://youtu.be/w6EIFD80f90?si=l53N3Dxq6TGuSK3A
Alia, this is one of my favourite essays. Thanks for this little reminder of home.
Michelle, how lovely to see your name pop up here! Thank you for your kind words. I hope you are doing well. It's been a long time since we have bumped into each other.
My family and I have been sailing around the South Pacific for the last four years. So I've only been in a town for short stints. We're finishing up in November and so I may be there more often. I would love to have coffee with you next time I'm there!
Woah! That sounds incredible Michelle. 4 years! Where does time go?! I'm often late to the party, but I completely missed the boat on that one, haha. Absolutely would love to catch up and hear what you've been up to next time you swing by.
This was such a beautiful piece, thank you for sharing your magpie friends with us 🧡
Thank you Sonbol 🙏 I'm glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate your ongoing support.
Beautiful
Thank you Simone 🙏
I used to think that magpies had gotten a bad rap after I read an interview with Jimmy Page in which he said that “some thieving magpie” had stolen one of his favorite guitars and taken it back to his nest. But after learning that one of these dirty birds considered stealing a patch of fur from your cat I decided that the reputation is well deserved. I’m sure glad that bird, feline, fur, nest and Alia are all doing well. Thank you for sharing your keen powers of observation and your love for all the creatures around your neck of the woods. A great gift you have there, and your listeners and readers are all the better off for it. I know I am. With much gratitude, respect and love—Rafael.
Thank you, Rafael. They can be terrors this time of year. There is one that lives along the bike path into town and dive bombs us (and everybody else) every time we ride past, there and back! It only ever pecked me once though. It doesn't bother me too much. I figure I'm wearing a helmet anyway 😂
I don’t think I could venture out onto that path without being dressed like a Hell’s Angel. I’d have nightmares about birds and their reptilian [shiver] ancestors.
Sounds like you will fit in well here.
I haven't had the pleasure of spending time with a British magpie (none that I'm aware of), but I have heard they are very charismatic, as you say. Hopefully I'll get that chance one day. I'd love to do some of those long walks across the UK.
That's a lovely song, too. Thanks for sharing it.
I have come across that saying about comparison here, too, although not from me. It's a great line. I wish I had said it 😂