THE MAGPIE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 72, 9 October 1939, Page 8

THE MAGPIE

"A FEATHERED HITLER'' BULLIES SMALLER BIRDS At intervals the magpie comes nn der notice as a persecutor of smallei birds—including natives such fa "tails, warblers and tomtits —es pccially when the Australian bird; are nesting. "I like the magpie's carol especially in tiic early morning, but I fee thgt the magpie is a feathered I<it ler," writes :i Wellingtonian to the Forest and Bird Protection Society. 'It is well known that they not only resent savagely the presence of olh ?r birds near their nesting places, mt do not hesitate to dart at chilIrcn or even men and women. Last vcar a motor cyclist who Avas 1 raveling, bare-headed at a moderate pace last a plantation some miles away 'rom Wellington, had a painfui surir:se. A magpie charged him a:vl the der-n impress of a hard Mil >n his forehead. "Magpi-s apparently have a helicf hat the world is mainly Cor inag)'C.s. One pair, in a nlrrtitjop big nough to supply Peaceful or many sm-dj bird*. will regard I'e I'ttle fel'ows ?s trespassers and a-ry The magpies are very ! "friendly aggres-ors, with a pities fo- the rights of maWiios of sni"ll birds. "This is another case for 'nvestjAvhen the long-p-omised nolicy ir proper manag.-ment of wild life into action. Do the virtue ill*.' nngp'o fiii"t. 'rhnj" e itDo.'.s it do more goo 1 thar inn?"