[Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie

[Jim & Beanie]

Yesterday a Sharpie grabbed a small bird out front then lit in a tree.  It wasn't 30 seconds until a magpie came to heckle the hawk.  Then three more magpies came to join in the fun.  The hawk flew away.

I see this everytime a hawk comes into the yard.  The Magpies just love to heckle them and will usually drive them off. I have never seen the Sharpie attempt to take the Magpie.  

I once saw a Kestrel land on the back of a Magpie that was at the Kestrels nest box.  They both tumbled to the ground then both flew off.  The little Hawk apparently couldn't deliver a fatal blow to the much larger Magpie. 

Today a Northern Shrike came to visit, but I didn't see any Magpies pestering it.  

Magpies love to pester the Great Horned Owl and the Red-tailed Hawk.  In fact I have often discovered owls by noticing a bunch of magpies first.  

Great Birding!

Jim

  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jeff Bilsky 
  To: Birdtalk 
  Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:11 AM
  Subject: [Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie


  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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