Meet Mama Magpie



This Mama comes down to chat and forage and she knows me now, like our Possum. They are Natives free to come and go as they please but ours just the same. Today I was in the right place at the right time. I'd been photographing flowers and I could hear her signing over the fence as she fossicked about, but once the rain started she decided to ask for a convenience meal and came to me.




She started to eat from my hand when she started to bring her youngster down. She didn't often share with it and didn't let it take too much from me, but she would let it take some. I believe she was perhaps demonstrating that I was a trustworthy human. Her youngster occasionally comes on its own now and chortles to let me know its waiting. She will boldly come into the house to let me know she's here if I'm not visible in the yard. This is dangerous as Bella is very excited by the birds and does not understand why they don't want to play.



These are not posted sequentially and while they are not all crystal clear images I'm so pleased with the play on focus and the way some convey movement. I had switched to single point focus just yesterday after watching a you tube vid going through what each of my camera menu functions does. It made me more aware of a couple of  factory settings that are in place for people who don't use their Cameras Manual functionality.

Magpies are such beautiful intelligent Birds. I hope you enjoyed meeting this girl.

Comments

  1. I am glad she wasn't aggressive like some of the ones in our city at the moment, Tammy. A couple of children have been pecked around their eyes unfortunately. I have joined up for a couple of online photography courses but haven't watched them properly as yet and I really have no idea what to do with the Nikon DSLR camera my brother gave me so I have been using my little Canon point and shoot which takes really great photos on the Macro setting. Your photos are lovely as usual.

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    1. I know some magpies are terribly territorial when they are nesting and dislike humans. None of our others are quite as confidant as this girl and tend to be a bit more stand offish. I know the camera settings are all quite overwhelming when you first step into it and truth be told I still feel like quite a novice myself, but as they say its a journey; practice makes perfect and all that! some reading about the exposure triangle would be my go to first thing I think as I find that exposure triangle is the 'mystery' I needed to know about to make me want to play. I did add my settings to the top of that first image for you, but forgot to note it in my post, though those numbers alone would not mean anything to someone who wasn't familiar with the concept of exposure triangle. x

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  2. Great photos of the Magpie. Didn't know they would come and eat out of people's hands.

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    1. Hi Sami,
      I don't think its really common but I have seen other people share similar things. She may have started this out of necessity to avoid the dog. She will sit on a branch or higher structure where Bella can't reach her and feed from me there. though if Bella is not around she will also take from my hand if I am on the ground. She actually quite reminds me of a dog in her mannerisms and behaviour.

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  3. This is so cool. Not only are your photographs excellent and exciting, but the story of you and her made me feel happy and and little teary-eyed. What a blessing to read this today.

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    1. Awww Thanks J. I'm pleased this could bring some light to your day as it did to mine. Truth be told she might be just a bossy demanding little terror but I prefer to look at her in the light I have portrayed here as I really do admire these birds. My darling departed Nan used to feed magpies when I was a toddler. I recollect her calling out "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie" and down would come a family of three for something to eat. Their musical chortle as they sing to each other is a sound that I adore. x

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  4. Gorgeous pics T.
    My Gran used to feed her Maggies too when I was little, wonderful memories.

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    1. Thanks J. Apparently she ventured into the house yesterday when I wasn't here it was just the Mr and eldest who is with us ATM. I 'hear' if a bird enters the house as does Bella but they are oblivious. Bella cornered her and she got caught behind a cupboard. They managed to get Bella into her Crate and let the bird out. I was distressed I didn't see her yesterday but she did come to the door this morning. Hopped up into the tree and waited, she only took one small piece from me and flew far away over fences to eat it. So she is Ok but obviously more wary of the pup now.

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    2. I am glad she did come back today, I imagine she will be a lot more wary now and possibly make sure you are around before coming down like she used to.

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    3. She stands in the door way and looks around , but if she has seen Bella she waits up in the tree as close to the door as she can get and peers in with her neck stretched.

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  5. What a beautiful post, your photography continues to go from strength to strength
    xxx

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    1. Thank you sweet Sue! I really appreciate that you stop by and comment from time to time. Getting feedback from my friends like this is encouraging. x

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