Saving Young Magpies
"Loving Them To Death"
As spring approaches and the breeding season begins, Mandurah Wildlife often receives calls about seemingly abandoned baby magpies. Many well-meaning people mistakenly "rescue" young magpies they believe have fallen from their nests, not realizing these birds are still under the care of their parents.
Learning to Forage and Strengthen their Wings
In fact, every young magpie spends 2 weeks on the ground as part of their development, where they learn to forage and strengthen their wings, while the parents will scare predators away. By taking these birds, people are unknowingly disrupting the natural process and essentially kidnapping them.
Difficult Rehabilitation
Taking care of these birds and returning them to the wild is not straightforward.
According to Mandurah Wildlife Supervisor, Fe (Fiona) Smith, magpies are among
the most challenging birds to return to the wild. It is crucial to know exactly when and where an injured or abandoned bird was found. Magpies live in distinct groups, or 'mobs', and if a bird is reintroduced into a territory occupied by a different mob, it will not be accepted.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that multiple mobs can share the
same territory at different times of the day. Over time, a mob may move on, making it even more difficult to reunite a bird with its original group.
For this reason, Fe and her team prioritize returning magpies to the wild as quickly as possible.
Killing Magpies
Feeding magpies is a common practice that many people find enjoyable. Magpies
are intelligent and responsive, creating a sense of companionship and connection
with the wild.
However, feeding them can be dangerous for the birds. Magpies are
opportunistic feeders, and if they become reliant on a human-provided food source, they may neglect their natural foraging habits, leading to an unbalanced diet.
Do Not Feed Minced Meat
A common misconception is that it's safe to feed magpies mincemeat. Fe warns that this is not the case. Regular mince can leach calcium from their bones, leading to incurable metabolic disorders. At the centre, any mince fed to magpies is specially treated with additives and frozen for three days before use.
Bread is another harmful food, as it swells in their stomachs, causing issues.
$20,000 Fine
Please be aware that feeding native wildlife without proper training, means you are more likely to harm the animal, and you risk receiving a fine of up to $20,000.
Feeding or keeping wild animals is only for your own pleasure!
However, if you wish to attract more birds to your garden and support them, we recommend planting native vegetation such as grevilleas and bottlebrushes. Native trees and shrubs provide habitat for insects, which birds feed on, and offering a fresh supply of water is also essential.
Read More
You might also be interested in the following article about Young Magpies being killed by the minced meat their parents are being fed.
