MAGPIE BEATS UP KOOKABURRA! Local feud erupts in violence - Australian birds

[@carolegarland8050]

Just like at the Movies!

[@johndavis7944]

But better because it's unscripted and real.

[@johndavis7944]

Best Magpie vs Kookaburra footage to date. The thumbnail is brilliant as you can see the magpie has full air brakes applied to bring the kookas flight to a stop Pound for pound that's bang for buck as the magpie's beak snaps shut on the kookas tail feathers. Although we cannot see it, i bet the magpie's eyes were seeing red as it approached, snuck up on the kooka. That was definitely a declaration of war. There's no accounting for the ballsiness male magpies have during breeding season. I've noticed an orange peel fungus growing on the left perch stand. Nice! I like lichen and encourage it's growth on my veranda brick ledge. To encourage growth of lichen, paint some yoghurt on something that's in a shaded area. Car enthusiasts who love the lichen petina look will often use this method. I saw a VW beetle that was almost covered in lichen. Thanks Murray. Cheers 👍😀🇦🇺

[@mybackyard36]

I had no idea magpies had that kind of grip strength. I was bitten by Junior a few times and it was nothing. But maybe he wasn't as motivated as our protagonist here. There's a lot of that orange fungus about at the moment. Some in the veg patch, some on a stump up behind the house, some on logs in the veg patch. It's vibrant stuff. A lichen covered VW...I wonder how much carbon that off-sets! There's a little bit growing on the ute. I don't think it's enough to describe the ute as a "green" vehicle though. I'm quite curious about Usnea. Thanks John 👍😁👍

[@CatsAreTheBestPeople-mm1fo]

Bet that kookaburra was laughing on the other side of his face by the end.

[@mybackyard36]

He sounded miffed 🤣🤣🤣🤣 But we got to hear a magpie victory warble! 👍👍

[@AnythingEverythingRC-rc1yc]

I love how the Mags don't bother the smaller birds, they just let them be.

[@mybackyard36]

And the smaller birds are actively scared of the Kookas...😁

[@franceshurt3517]

those friar birds certainly love a bath, am I right in thinking they are friar birds? and mr maggie certainly held his territory. Before I had a dog I used to feed our street maggies and there was one little one that was missing half the lower part of his beak, being real imaginative I called him Beakie, I could hand feed him, unfortunately a murder of crows attacked him and killed him and now I'm wary of crows, they have moved from drought-ridden inland to the coast, can't blame them but I'm not pleased about it, anyway, cheers!!👍👍🙏

[@mybackyard36]

There were Blue-faced honeyeaters (one was younger and blue-green) and some Little friarbirds apart supporting the main bout. I also get Noisy friarbirds around here quite often. Poor little Beakie. And it's sad about the crows turning up in large numbers. While the magpies keep crows out of the territory, I doubt they'd succeed if a whole lot of them arrived at once. That might overwhelm him.

[@tamphex]

Maggie might have new babies nearby so sees Kooka as a threat to her feeding ground.

[@mybackyard36]

Good thinking- and please don't take this the wrong way -but here are my thoughts... The nest is at least 250 meters from the birdbath. Maybe more. I think I know where it is - I know the direction but not the exact tree. It's the male magpie that's attacking here. There has been some kooka/magpie aggro in the last month or so. I think she's sitting on eggs and has been for a week or two. Another 5-12 days to go maybe? As of today, at least 4 days after the incident here, I'm 100% certain that the eggs haven't hatched. Both magpies came today and neither collected insects in their beaks and they'd do that if there were chicks to feed. (That video should go up tomorrow afternoon.) There was an issue a month ago and the male kooka scared the female magpie. I think the male magpie got involved and became heavily invested in the feud. And it escalated. There may have been more incidents etc. There was one incident I saw today that I'm still thinking about - sadly not caught on camera. I don't think the Kookaburras raided the magpie nest. I'm confident the chicks - if the lady is in fact sitting on eggs - haven't hatched yet. But kookas are nest-robbers and are pretty mean. Even seeing them nearby watching is a threat. Both magpies and kookas have been sharing this territory for years. I've not seen this level of aggro before. It may have been desire for a curl grub that began the war. Interesting times. Yep - when I have time and get invested I write long replies. Apologies for going on so long and hope you're having a great day - cheers!

[@ctempleman1401]

Was also going to say the kookaburra's are nest raiders and a lot of birds will attack them if the kookaburras are near the nest. No bird wants to lose their chicks.

[@mybackyard36]

@@ctempleman1401 Very true.

[@skullworld7]

War & Peace….magpie and kookaburra style. There really is a clear hierarchy between your local bird population. I’m impressed with your magpie and his salutary warble after dispatching that crazy Kooka!! R 👍

[@mybackyard36]

It could be the Kooka was sounding affronted and the magpie suggested the affront could be placed where the sun doesn't shine. Maybe, maybe not. Everyone can come to different conclusions on that score. There was peace for a long time between maggies and kookas. I wonder how long this will go on for. I've seen three incidents in about four weeks so we'll see.

[@larrykelly-kf5pp]

Well that wasn’t cheese and biscuits! Did he have a reason to target that kookaburra so deliberately?

[@mybackyard36]

🤣🤣🤣 Well...my theory is it goes back to when she got scared off a bale by a Kooka and a magpie chased it away. That was about four weeks ago. The link is in the video description if you missed it. But there may have been another incident or two that caused offence. There's so much that goes on around here I miss...

[@larrykelly-kf5pp]

@@mybackyard36 might have missed the visuals but now you say it I remember you mentioned it. I guess when protective hormones are gearing towards parent hood, anyone frightening mum is an affront to be dealt with. Poor kookaburra tail! Wonder if the Kerfuffles will die off when the chicks are old enough to be safe? Totally speculating