Magpies

[Neferti]

I didn't know how to recognise male/female Magpies ... Googled it.

Other bird species are fairly easy since the male usually has more colour than the female.

I have a short list of birds I have seen in my garden ( I own the Field Guide to Birds of Australia by Graham Pizzey).

Black faced Cuckoo Strike
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Galah
Crimson Rosella
Australian Magpie
Black Currawong
House Sparrow
Common Starling
European Greenfinch
Eastern Rosella
King Parrots
Blackbird
Crested Pigeon
Green Rosella
Red Rumped Parrot
Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo
Yellow Wattlebird
Willy wagtail

Plus others that I failed to write down.

Years ago I saw a Robin Redbreast, a Kookaburra and a Blue Wren but that was when the area opposite was still undeveloped.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Bit like those irresponsible tarts, female Butcher birds. Who leave the male with the young to look after, while she goes out looking for new mates.

Butcher birds don't hang around the way magpies do so it's hard to figure out their habits, but I have noticed that the male seems to look after the babies during nesting and for a short while after they leave the nest. I've seen the same males return for a couple of seasons, but not the females. I'm not sure, but I'd like to believe that the female stays with the babies during their first few weeks of birth while the father finds the food for them. The female possibly might die of exhaustion or moves somewhere because she isn't seen again unlike magpies - where the male disappears a month or so after the babies leave the nest.

I suggest you research the species or watch their habits. When the chicks hatch she takes off to find new breeding partners. He rears the young until they're old enough to support themselves, and then drives them out of his territory.

[mantra]

I suggest you research the species or watch their habits. When the chicks hatch she takes off to find new breeding partners. He rears the young until they're old enough to support themselves, and then drives them out of his territory.

I'll do some research as they don't nest in my garden. I can only observe them when they come for food. The females are faster - but the males look stronger and more persistent. They have more of a presence so it makes sense that they are feeding the babies.

[Outlaw Yogi]

I've seen female Butcher birds with 3 males vying for her attention/choice.

I noticed in Neferti's list Currawong cited. The bird in Qld typically known as a Currawong (look like undersized Crow until opening wings, then resemble Magpies, and taste like mutton) are a completely different bird to what's called a Currawong in NSW (which resembles an over sized Magpie).

The ones in NSW are aggressive like Magpies. The ones in Qld gather in groups anywhere from 6 to 20 or 30 birds and are quite noisy. Magpies bomb them at times.

[Black Orchid]

That's right, it's now illegal to kill cane toads.

No, it is not. If you kill a cane toad, the RSPCA Legislation requires that you do it 'humanely.'

A seven iron is humane.

The RSPCA has repeatedly appealed to Queenslanders intent on killing cane toads not to hit them with golf clubs or cricket bats, saying such methods rarely kill the pests.

It says cane toads should be killed humanely by putting them to sleep in the fridge, before freezing them.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/1 ... CbTT6IW.99" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You were saying?

[Neferti]

Aussie doesn't care who he swings a 7-iron at. If it misses the toad and hits some poor little kid, so what? It also says something for his golfing ability .... he undoubtedly misses the little white ball too and throws a tanty.

He vowed to DECK me if he ever meets me in person... most unlikely but all the same... Aussie with a 7-iron is an extremely dangerous person and should be reported to the QPS ASAP.