Australia's Cheeky Magpie

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 105, 6 May 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

Australia's Cheeky Magpie

Cheeky, inquisitive, and as susceptible to the lure of anything that glitters as the jackdaw, is the black and white magpie of Australia. Even while the cameraman was trying to take this photograph lie had to put his nose— really his beak—into the bag to see just what wns there. Probably the most melodious of the morning warblers, tlie magpie is found in all Australian States. He does a lot of good in keeping down "round and flying insects, but is a nuisance to many people —telegraph linesmen and golfers in particular. Kspecially near the Federal Capitol of Canberra the magpies are annoying to golfers, for they, delight in waiting for a good long drive and then swoop down and fly aw ay with the ball. Unfortunately wire glitters and magpies love to use odd bits of thia for building their nests between telegraph wires and on the poles. This leads to frequent "shorts" in the telegraph circuits. Still they make likeable peta and are enthusiastic if not helpful gardening companions. It is only while Mrs. Magpie is nesting that the father occasionally Iweomes vicious. Then he will tackle anything thift comes near the nest, crows, kookaburras, eagles, and even dogs.