magpies singing for their food

["Wim Vader" <>]

When on a picnic near Adelaide back in Adelaide back in 2001, we got the 
company of a pair of magpies; they bummed food, but also 'sang for their food', 
i.e. reacted with a short song strophe every time they got something. The same 
happened last summer (our summer, your winter, July 2006) in Bundaberg (or 
rather Bargara beach) with the local Pied Butcherbirds. In this case a whole 
family, two adults and three youngsters, joined us during breakfast on the 
veranda, sat on the railing, bowed and sang for us. As this is probably my 
all-time favourite songbird, the performance was much appreciated. I can not 
remember similar reactions from birds here in Europe; but then, Australian 
birds are on the average much bolder anyway.


                                                                        Wim 
Vader, Tromsø Museum
                                                                        9037 
Tromsø, Norway
                                                                        

                                                                        
                                                                        
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