Yesterday it snowed, and I did not go out all day. This morning, I looked out on wintry views again: the ground covered by snow, and some on the trees as well. These photos were taken from my windows. The magpie was sitting on my balcony; in the other photo (taken from my kitchen) there is a magpies' nest in that tree. Magpies are monogamous and in spring often return again to the same nest, and keep improving/expanding it. Already at the end of January I saw them inspecting and "poking about" a bit... I suppose they were having "spring feelings" during a week that was snow free and somewhat milder!
The snow we got yesterday is already melting again. Very slushy this afternoon - I was out for a short walk to the nearest small "corner shop" but was not tempted to extend it further.
Magpies are fascinating birds, like all the corvids. I know they steal eggs and fledglings, but all creatures have to live.
ReplyDeleteMagpie cant feel the cold?
ReplyDeleteRo, what they feel I don't know, but they are here all year round.
Deletethat is a very handsome magpie. I have never seen one in real life... let us know is they do any add ons
ReplyDeleteSandra, they always do some work on their nests before breeding season. In another tree I see from home there are two nests, one above the other. Whether they were built by the same couple or not, I don't know. (I don't think both nests have been occupied at the same time, but I could be wrong about that too.)
DeleteI love Magpies! I believe they are a member of the Corvid family and about as smart as Crows. We don' t have any here. It looks like snow on his shoulder, but I know it is just his black & white feather pattern.
ReplyDeleteWe have a healthy magpie population here, and they have become pretty active over the past week or so. Apparently, bird behaviour has more to do with the lengthening (or shortening) of daylight hours than with temperature, and already there is a noteable difference between now and what it was like around Christmas.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt you're right about the daylight hours, Meike.
DeleteNot many magpies where I live but I have seen them in other places I've been and they get a bit territorial when they have babies nearby. Yours looks like it's looking around for food.
ReplyDeleteAmy, they often land temporarily on our balconies like that. And I think they find much of their food on the ground. But I guess when the ground is covered by snow they have to look for alternatives...!
DeleteThat's an excellent photo, Monica. I don't think we have Magpies here, in fact we have very few birds, thanks to the practise of the farmers and gun owners shooting them all as sport.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol. There are many birds in the big old trees in the cemetery nearby. On the lawns in between the buildings where I live it's usually mostly the big ones that we see - magpies, crows, jackdaws, doves ... and in summer also sea gulls (they come up along the river from the coast in spring). We're not allowed to feed birds on/from our balconies as that may also attract rodents.
Delete