A Month of Magpies
When we moved into our new home, I was thrilled to find numerous Magpies lived around our neighbourhood; in particular the couple who have marked our yard out as their own. The female I have christened Frida Kahlo for her significant brows and the male is yet to be named as Frida is the more social of the pair……. but he’ll reveal his character and therefore his name in due course!
Since I was a small child my Mum taught me about the magic of Magpies! To listen to their beautiful song, to observe them dust bathing in our driveway and to watch them marching along the lawn in their shiny black coats listening for worms and insects as they turned their heads. They also love the sprinklers!
Some Magpies will swoop passers-by who they perceive to be a threat to their young in the nest – this is natural instinct …... and sounds a little like humans with their new babies if a stranger gets too close or someone has a cold?
The Magpie is always blamed and either relocated or sadly euthanised….lucky all new protective parents aren’t treated the same! In my experience it much easier to make yourself known by introducing yourself with a gift of water or a few worms.
So, for the month of October I’m drawing a Magpie a day and posting it on my
Instagram feed @fionajohnson_art.
