[Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie

[John Morgan]

In my backyard I've seen 2 Magpies heckling a Sharpie....right up until the Sharpie said "thats 'nuff" and tore after the closest Magpie. I distinctly saw the smile come off the Magpie's face as they approached hyperspace speeds and disappeared beyond the neighbor's fence. Mr. Sharpie had no problem staying right on Mr. Magpie's tail feathers throughout the several maneuvers that I thought were pretty amazing for a Magpie. Easy to assume it would've been the Sharpie's invite to lunch, had eating been on it's mind. In this case, it seemed more of a road rage incident. Probably comes a point where strong feet and the sharper beak is overcome by strong (plus longer & more pointy) beak and equally strong wings. It's all about the tools. David and Goliath? It could happen I suppose.
John
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Connie McManus 
  To: Jeff Bilsky 
  Cc: Birdtalk 
  Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:01 AM
  Subject: Re: [Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie


  This AM i was watching a Northern Harrier circle over the pasture behind my yard and wondered about Sharpies and Magpies.  I've had a Northern Shrike visiting here, also and wondered who would win between a magpie and the shrike.  Probably the magpie, there.   How to put this next thought is tricky... we hear about sharks in the deep blue sea and their feeding frenzies and sometimes we could say that the sky holds the same dangers for some of our little feathered friends.  I'm glad hawks don't flock to hunt! 

  Just a thought ...
  connie mcmanus




  On Jan 11, 2008 10:11 AM, Jeff Bilsky <jbilsky at gmail.com> wrote:

    I just saw a Sharpie taking on a Magpie in my backyard! I can honestly say I've never seen that. They flew off still battling.

    Jeff Bilsky
    Jbilsky at gmail.com

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  -- 
  Connie McManus
  Nibley, Cache County, Utah 


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