Over the years it’s possible to discern the differences in the calls of Australian Magpies. What the language means of course remains a mystery, but some sounds go with some actions.
The rolling call of a pair declaring their territory against all comers. The short sharp bark of a a contact call between birds feeding on the ground, just to stay in touch and know where everyone is. Alarm calls for the close immediate family, and a different one for local clans, and a different one again to warn other local clans of danger. No doubt there are plenty more.
One call, I’m certain is distinct and the other day as we walked up the hill to iAmGrey to packup and head for home, the stark-highpitched agitated call went up from at first the Maggies in the local area, and then rolling down the field to others. I’ve heard it before, and exclaimed to noone in particular, “”Brown Falcon”.
And as I turned around, not to check for Falcons, but to see where the Maggies were going, there on a lone tree propped a Brown Falcon. The family took off to harass it, and get it on the move.
Brown Sat.
Mum, Dad and a young juvenile made lots of loud calls and swooping attemps.
Brown Sat.
The call went out to the next clan, and sure enough suddenly the hapless Falcon had five more loud, angry Magpies sitting the tree, calling and swooping. I sometimes wonder if there is not a bragging rights thing that goes on. “Oh, I got it to move”. “I put its wings up” “I was ‘this’ close” etc etc.
Brown Sat.
By now the air around the Falcon was full of loud calling angry black and white feathered shapes.
The Falon didn’t have much option. If it flew, the combined squadron would have had the advantage of speed and agility and it would have been mobbed all the way across the open paddock. Clans that were not directly involved were now spaced out along the paddock, supposedly uninterested, as they pretended to be really interested in meal gathering, but should the Falcon head in their direction, they would have been ready to rise to the challenge and add to the clamour, and so on to the next clan, and the next.
Brown Sat.
We figured at least three possibiliies.
1. Brown had just finished a meal and was in no hurry to fly anywhere until it was digested.
2. Brown had spied some tasty morsel worth waiting for, and was going to sit until the right moment to pounce
3. Brown had no other option than to sit. Flying into such a concentration of Magpie angst could have serious consquences.
Brown Sat.
Brown Falcon time is really impressive. 30-40 minutes on one location is not unusual.
In the end, the clans exhausted themselves, and left the scene.
Brown, now only had a photographer in the paddock to worry about. So it did what is pretty usual. It pretened to be unconcerned about the whole affair and began to preen.
I waited another 10 minutes.
Brown Sat.
Other activities required my attention, so we left. As we drove out, it was still on the branch.
Enjoy.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 
What an interesting scene to watch. Thanks for the photos and story David. The square format is refreshing!
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Hello Jeremy,
Glad you enjoyed the images. We’ve not seen too many Browns recently.
The square is something I’ve been working on for awhile, but can’t get a good WordPress blog that suits it really, so i’m kind of doing it by the chainsaw method until I can find a better way.
I started pro-photography shooting 120 roll film in square format with a brace of Rollieflex cameras and do have a warm feel for this format.
All the best
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Loved your story David, those Magpies are so intelligent and have such a complex language, it is interesting to try and work out what they are on about at times. You appear have identified ‘Brown Falcon threat nearby’ threat call. Great swooping shots though I was unable to enlarge them so not sure if they do. Interesting that they did not inflict any injury to drive the falcon on with their very hard beak yet when they are nesting they will draw blood on us humans. Have a good week and hope the weather is better for you than us, you would think we are back in winter here at the moment.
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HI Ashley, the more I work with Maggies, the more I wish I knew. I’ve got Dr Kaplan’s book filled with yellow postit, and everytime I see something new I scan through and more than likely she has some comment on it.
The Falcon knew it would be under attack if it flew so it just sat out the drama.
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Thanks David, it makes more sense now after reading why the Falcon did not fly when some years ago I observed (studied) an attacking nesting Magpie which was causing significant injury and fear in passers bye. One man I interviewed after attack tried to cross a playing field and 2 Maggies relentlessly attacked him so he would sit down on the ground in the middle of the field and the birds would stop attacking but just stand around him waiting for his next move. Eventually he would get across the field. He was attacked each time he passed. It seems to be the movement that is the threat which the clever Falcon obviously knew. Hope the weather is better in your part of the country, not sure what season it is here any more, and I’m sure the birds don’t either. 🙂
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Excelent and beautifully illustrated story, David. It’s made me smile and I am full of admiration for your knowldge of the Megpie lingo.
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G’day Adam,
I wish I did know a little about what they saying, but some of the warning calls are at least repeated across families. And writing about it makes it sound like I know, but… I mostly guess.
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Excelent and beautifully illustrated story, David. It’s made me smile and I am full of admiration for your knowldge of the Megpie lingo.
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What a terrific series of images David – super dramatic and obviously a lot of bad language and insults being hurled at the Brown Falcon. Thanks for sharing the event with us.
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Hello Eleanor, I do think if we knew the full extent of Maggie language it would make the old Englishe anglo-saxon blush.
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The Browns can be wonderful stoic when the need arises!
And the Maggies are very persistent, if not ruthless.
Wonderful for you to see the encounter, David! And to get some fantastic images of the event!
Great to read about and to view!
Dave N
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Hi Dave,
Ruthless is a good word. But, they are funny, after nesting season they are much more sedate about things.
This is such an interestingly marked Brown, I would love to be able to find it again. But, sadly I think its a one off
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