A Magpie I`ve named Dame Nellie Melba
I`ve just come inside from sitting in a bit of rare sunshine,even though it was diffused.While out there Dame Nellie visited me,she is a magpie,a juvenile one at that,I think she would be 2 years and has distinctive tail feathers which enable me to identify her from the 12 or so that regularly come here.So far I`ve been able to listen to her mimic 5 different birds with which she shares this area.The usual song of a magpie is a melodious warbling but not Dame Nellie,she goes through her repertoire and I hear a Blackbird,Dove,Currawong,Rainbow Lorikeet and Wattle Bird,its so beautiful,maybe she does it specially for me as I feed her and her companions leftovers.Dame Nellie Melba was one of our famous opera singers and if she were to sing as beautifully as her magpie namesake than it would always have been a grand performance.
Just thought I`d share this little interlude of my afternoon with you,it makes one sit up and see that there are little things to enjoy providing we dont see a barren lifescape around us.
A beautiful blog Syl. Thanks for sharing.
I’m sure Dame Nellie sings her tune just for you, our wonderful bird life know who they can trust. I think it is wonderful to have such a bond with our wild birds.
I had no idea that Magpie’s mimic other birds, I have a one legged Magpie who I coaxed into my yard in the last few months , she was very hesitant at first but I have gradually gained her trust by feeding her mince meat and she visits several times a day now. I’m assuming a female as she takes meat back to her nest, I’m hoping to meet her offspring one day.
Thanks for your great blog Syl
I wasn`t sure magpies mimic either but i did some research and found that they do,they are also one of the most intelligent birds.
Thanks for that information syl
Lovely blog.
Thanks laurie
We have two resident magpies live in the trees in our court Sylvester , they are so tame , they come to the doors of a morning and whistle their songs. they never swoop when they have their young and one of the residents feed them by hand little bits of minced steak , the maggies love it … lol
Hi Sylvester, maybe Nellie Melba has a strain of grey parrot in her…lol they are brilliant at mimcry,but can actually hold a conversation because they do understand words……..I love to hear the seagulls at the seaside, although now they are regarded as a damn nuisance…
Put me in mind of the lyrebird, an Australian bird known for its amazing ability to mimic an incredible variety of sounds, including other birds.
Thats right Laurie,I`ve listened to Lyrebirds mimic a chain saw,frogs and cockatoos,I know they were Lyrebirds because they dont stick with the same tune too long.
Seagulls can be a nuisance,specially if your having lunch on the sea shore and dont feel like sharing,but I agree what better place than to listen to seagulls with a whiff of salt air
Now I know more about bird life so thank you Sylvester
They really are fascinating creatures Rose and can teach us a lot.
I put a piece of rib eye steak out (wrapped in cling wrap) one day, to allow it to defrost….The maggies flogged the lot,but left the cling wrap behind,then they got the nerve to swoop me when its nesting time……Oh well…their trilling in the morning sounds a lot better than an alarm clock. 🙂
Hahahahah Capps,they love MacDonald chips as well when you leave them outside while going in to make a coffee.
oh no, Not the rib eye steak. I would not let that steak out of my site.