 |
 |
 |
POOH
September 2000 - September 5th 2004
| Pooh the magpie was an amazing bird, she was
independent and yet the friendliest and smartest bird I have ever known and
that is including all my pet birds I have ever had the privilege of knowing.
One day back in October 2000 I noticed a commotion going on in our yard near
our caravan I went to investigate and found a fledgling magpie with big meat
ants all over it. Picking it up, I picked of all the ants and brought the
poor little bird home. It was tired and very distressed so I gave it a
little water and put it to rest. There was no way we could put it back in
the nest, high in the gum tree so I became Mum. Her Mum bye the way was
still around so in between me feeding her when I could, I would put her out
on the verandah in her home made nest and her Mum would come down and feed
her too. Female magpies are very protective over their young and can be quite
aggressive toward interfering humans but this one did not seem to mind me
helping out. So Pooh grew up with us. She went to work, slept on the bed
with Sebastian the Doberman, chased the cat and Gina away from their foods
and became part of our family and we loved her. The other magpies came around and she learnt to fly, gradually she would spend the day out with her magpie family but always returned at night time to roost in the house. She did this for 3 years. I always had to make sure I was home by dark to let her in or I would find a very indignant magpie on the verandah waiting. The last year I thought it was better for her to stay out with her friends but she had other ideas and roosted on our hopper window chain between the window and the fly screen on the office window.
Pooh greeted our visitors, she would land on their car or nearby when they came to see us. I had some workmen on the roof one time, so I went to tell them not be startled by a magpie if she flew to them. Too late Pooh was already sitting on his arm. She visited the next door neighbours and made herself known. She treated both our homes like her own takeaway food outlet. They too were very fond of her. Sadly in her 5th year she was found dead, presumed drowned in one of their horses water troughs. We think maybe a heart attack. I know that none of us will ever forget Pooh as one amazing magpie.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |