Nesting season has begun for Black-billed Magpies. In fact it’s been going on for some time now.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF, not baited, set up or called in
Black-billed Magpies begin nesting activities early so I always start watching for it on unusually warm days soon after the new year. I usually see the first signs of nesting in February but this year it was the last week of January when I first found a magpie pair refurbishing an old nest within this greasewood bush.
Twice since then I’ve watched them rearranging twigs inside and on the periphery of the nest and on one occasion a saw a magpie carry a stick to the nest. One morning they both had muddy bills which is often (though not always) an indication of nest building. This early in the season nest building is only sporadic so I was lucky to catch them at it all three times I was there.
This photo was taken five days ago, on February 10, soon after the magpie took off from the top of the nest bush after rearranging twigs on the side of the nest chamber. This time of year, before things start to green up, the nest setting is never very attractive but I still can’t resist trying for magpie takeoff and flight shots.
This was the best I got that morning. Magpies in flight aren’t easy, in part because of the exposure challenges of a black and white bird. Their predictably uncooperative behavior only adds to the challenge.
Ron
There is something so mesmerizing about the left wing. Really like it.
Thanks, Arwen.
Very nice you are still able to get around the area of nests. I hate the changes put in place because a few can’t behave in the great outdoors. I hope they stay and raise a family this year.
I love magpies, except they can be troublesome when I am weathering other birds for release and need to provide food for a soft release. Last year I did not weather or release a single maggie, but by July, I easily had a flock of 30 juveniles harassing all my weathering birds and eating their food. I had to limit what other birds I released in my yard. Haley had to take some to her house and I took all the robins up the canyons where I could not put food out for them for a soft release where there was plentiful food and water naturally. Magpies are so smart, one year we released 3 juveniles who were raised in a group of 4. The forth in the group was not flighted enough for release with the first three and was held back 2 weeks. When we had the forth in the release cage the three nest mates came and let him out of his cage about an hour after we put him out to weather and get ready for release in a day or two. They slid the latch and opened the door. The latch can not be reached by the birds from the inside. The cheeky buggers must have watched us open the latch while they were weathering when we fed them three times a day. They went directly to the latch and pecked and pulled til they got it to slide they pushed open the door and went inside to explore and eat the food, all 4 hung around all summer into winter.
What a wonderful story. How I wish that some people of my acquaintance were so ‘bird brained.’
Wow, that’s quite a story April. Cheeky birds, that’s for sure!
And I agree with you about “the changes”. I hate them. And some of them are completely unnecessary overreactions, including the one I believe you’re referring to.
Had a problem years ago with them going in the chicken coop for grub until I managed to shut the door on one and let it stew for a couple of hours – they DO learn….. 😉 Currently feed little birds inside a chain link dog kennel with a top over most of it near the back door – they don’t much like that either – also keeps the White-tailed deer away. Worth the extra clean up…… 🙂
“let it stew for a couple of hours”
Is that like stewing chickens? 🙂
I’ll bet that bird didn’t go into the coop again.
Don’t think Magpie would be very tasty…… 😉
No, and neither did any of the others that observed the situation….. 😉
Love this shot—especially those lovely, outstretched wings (“perfectly scalloped,” as Lyle said)—Magpies really are beauty in motion, as you’ve captured here!
Thanks, Chris. Yes, they are.
I know many people consider magpies a noisy nuisance but I would love to have them around our place. They are not found west of the Cascades where we live but I sure enjoy them when I go eastside. They’re beautiful and like other corvids, they have many fascinating behaviors and I would love a chance to observe them more often.
Dan, for many years magpies were common in my neighborhood and sometimes nested in my big elm tree (the one I had to have removed). I seldom see them anymore near my home and I miss having them around – even though they could occasionally be a very loud nuisance.
Our magpies are very different (ours are passerines), but I love them both.
Actually, our magpies are also passerines but in a different family. Ours belong to the family Corvidae and yours belong to the family Artamidae. Both families are in the Order Passeriformes.
Thank you Dan. My education continues.
Always something to learn from Dan.
Just thought I might add another bit of trivia. Your magpie is named for the Magpie of Europe. Our Black-billed Magpie and the magpie of Europe were once considered the same species but were split a few years ago. But wherever the British went in their early explorations they named the birds they saw for the birds they were familiar with. Thus, the black and white bird they saw in Australia became a magpie to them. We also have many robins around the world (including our American Robin). Wherever the British went and saw a bird with a rusty breast they often called it a robin. The magpie in Britain has sometimes been called a Pied Maggie. Pied refers to the black and white pattern.
I did know that – and deplored the colonists lack of imagination.
As always, I enjoyed reading this. Fascinating photo. Thanks, Ron.
Thank you, Arit.
You capture perfectly boldness and strength of the Magpie’s simple black and white, the long graceful tail, and the perfectly scalloped wings. Really an elegant creature.
I’m glad you appreciate magpies, Lyle. A lot of folks don’t.
Excellent Ron – have always enjoyed your Magpie photos. I have only seen them once in my life and that was in Taos NM. They were in a field just off the road. I got out of the car and tried to catch a couple photos, but it was close to impossible to catch one.
“it was close to impossible to catch one”
Boy, do I know how that is! At least when they’re nesting they’re usually a little easier to photograph. Just a little though…
Maggies!
Yup, that they are.
Nice! 🙂 About 50 of the “fine” pests in the field yesterday for awhile…;) They ARE beautiful even if not my favorite bird and a challenge to photograph….. A bit of nest work starting
Actually have some pretty “wet” snow coming down this morning – sure need it.
Thanks, Judy. This storm appears to be fizzling out for us.
Googling for a reference photo of Magpie feathers is how I discovered Feathered Photography years ago—and I’m so glad I did– you provide visual treats and informational ones generously on a daily basis– thanks !
Interesting to know how you found us, Kris. It’s funny how many folks remember which bird they were researching when they stumbled across FP.
Those wings are so beautiful they help make up for any frustration with a black head, bill and eye. Well worth the effort I should think. I’m just glad you keep going back for more and more because we benefit.
“I’m just glad you keep going back for more and more”
I’m stubborn that way, Granny Pat. I may have taken more crappy shots of magpies than of any other species but when I get a really good one the feeling of accomplishment is extra special.
My father would certainly have said that you were more stubborn than stains. As he did of me.
Your magpie shots always have a special charm to them. Maybe it’s the “hat” that’s always in the back of my mind, but I really think it’s your skill with all those blacks and whites.
Thank you, Marty. I almost included that ‘hat shot’ in this post as an example of the quality of magpie flight shot I strive for but I figured that particular photo has been posted often enough.