People are certainly one of their biggest concerns because as soon as their fledglings leave the nest they spend most of their time on the ground learning to forage with their parents, avoiding cars if they can, learning to hide in the shrubs when there is danger, from pedestrians who think they have been abandoned. They are often taken away from their parents, their tribe and territory. Worst of all their freedom. Wildlife carers are inundated with magpie fledglings at this time of year, do gooders do more harm to a magpie family than good. Others want to keep them, which is illegal in most states and learn the hard way that there is a technique to feeding and often cause the young magpie to die a slow death from respiratory problems or drowning if forced to drink water.
The dangers in the nest may come from people who regularly feed magpies the wrong food. When nutrition is poor, wildlife carers see a rise in magpies with broken beaks, and soft bent legs that cannot hold nor walk well with them, developing metabolic disorders and a life of pain and that is why most are put to sleep. The other are people who kill the alpha male, whether due to the ongoing repetitive song they sing throughout the late hours and into the early morning when they are nesting. It is a call to warn other males that this is their territory so stay away. It gives the female reassurance that he is there to defend the nest of eggs or hatchlings from predators ie - kookaburras, crows, ospreys and other raptors.
Magpies are incredibly smart and teach their young from the beginning the skills they need for when they too become adults. Amazing to watch and see the changes in the young magpies. There is a lot of tough love as well especially for the boys, a push to become street and sky smart. The girls learn from their mother and aunts and will stick around a bit longer, often taking care of the young when they are more confident. Wonderful caring parents will do anything to keep their young safe. Beware of people is on their list. They are also clever enough to know the good humans. I never get tired of watching these remarkable birds. You'll see it with other birds, it's a scary and tough life for them all.
