I haven't started talking to the trees yet Foxy, but I have the dog the cats, the horse & the magpies for idle chatter.

The magpies swooped when we first came, then I did what I'm told is a no no. I picked up a fledgling just out of the nest, which could not get airborne, & put it on the top rail of the round yard for safety. The magpies became less aggressive contrary to the experts advice.

I started throwing left over dry cat food invaded by ants out on the grass in front of the house. The Maggies & the topnotch crested native pigeons enjoyed a banquet. I started grating old bred into crumbs in the same area, & was surprised at what joined the throng. I had not expected lorikeets & blue faced honey eaters to be interested in bread.

The lorikeets are rather fickle, just a couple some days, but up to thirty at times but I now have quite a flock of others as well. Every time I walk out of the door the maggies will land at my feet, demanding a tit bit. The young ones will land on the bench I sit on & take mince from my fingers. I admit I sometimes do talk to them, but still not the trees just yet.

Flying our remote control aircraft the other day with a mate, he had his plane attacked by a wedge tail eagle, the first time I've seen one around here. We often get white cockatoos & magpies objecting to our use of their airspace, but this was a first. It left it's calling card in puncture damage in the tail. It indicates much of the farming & grazing country is going back to bush as aging men give up agriculture, & youngsters are just not interested, another sign of the changing times.

i feed four magpies (and minors who sneak scraps) oats.

Lady who saves birds advises against bread, as it can cause deformities for young chicks due to poor nutrition, but recommends oats.

Hi Hassie and Chris,

My husband feeds the magpies and others. They've all
gotten to recognise him and come running when he walks out
into the garden. I'll tell him about the bread. I don't
think he knows. He gives them all sorts of crumbs.
Left-overs. I'll tell him to buy bird-seed from now on.

I like magpies.

Do you know that according to evolutionary psychologists we humans have more in common with birds than any other animal species?

Misop,

What, even Neanderthals ? Or other great apes ?

Joe

I don't think ours will suffer nutritionally Chris, the maggies not only get mince as a tidbit, but spend all day digging "bush" tucker from my acre & a half house paddock, their exclusive territory.

For the honey eaters there are 70 Hibiscus & 40 grevilleas among dozens of other flouring shrubs & trees. When the 5 silky oaks, [Grevillea robusta] are in flour the squabbling can become intrusive.

This year is amazing. I have not seen hibiscus flower into winter as they have this year, in what is a very cold early winter, & I have never seen wattle & hibiscus in flower simultaneously before. There is certainly plenty of natural food around here.