Magpie 'parasitism'

[glaciermint]

Saw an interesting example of what might be termed parastism in my garden this afternoon which is perhaps worth recording.

A squirrel trotted around the garden with a magpie loosely following about 10 metres behind. The squirrel then stopped on the lawn and began burying or retreiving something, it was hard to tell which. The magpie hopped to within 1m and watched, After a few seconds the squirrel made a sudden movement towards the magpie who took a few steps backwards. It did not seem like serious aggression and the squirrel went back to its larder with the magpie keeping a respectable distance.

About 10 seconds later the squirrel trotted away and the magpie immediately moved to the area vacated by the squirrel and it looked as if he took something in his bill and within seconds flew away.

Not sensational I know but although the crow family are known for their 'intelligence' this was a habit new to me and is another example of the adaptability and opportunism of magpies!

[Gill Osborne]

Racking my brains here as I saw something like this on a wildlife programme not that long ago :stuck:

Can't remember the species either but it WAS one of the crow family! My memory is saying it was a Jay ( or a Carrion Crow or Magpie?) but I'm not 100% sure - perhaps somebody else saw it?

Certainly doesn't surprise me tho......I adore the crow family as they ARE so intelligent! It's a shame folks don't put aside their prejudices and respect and admire their brains and adaptablity. :brains:

[IanF]

Wasn't it Autumn Watch? I remember KH went to Formby for the Red Squirrels and got fleas!

I think that was the clip where Red Squirrels were burying nuts and Crows were digging them up after they left.

[glaciermint]

The person who first recorded Blue Tits pecking open milk bottle tops, for many years now a well known 'learned response', probably harboured secrets of self-satisfaction. I was hoping to do the same but clearly this isn't such an unusual occurrence!

Nevertheless it was a first for me so I'll take my pleasures from that!

[Gill Osborne]

That sounds like it Ian o:) I KNEW I'd seen it somewhere LOL

[sward]

Its possible that the magpie uses the same area as the squirrel to store food as i regularly see magpies storing food in my front lawn best wishes all

[KnockerNorton]

This is called kleptoparasitism, as 'klepto' = thieving.

[glaciermint]

Its possible that the magpie uses the same area as the squirrel to store food as i regularly see magpies storing food in my front lawn best wishes all

A good point which illustrates the dangers of assuming too much, especially on the basis of a single observation. In this instance it certainly seemed however that the magpie was actively following the squirrel and taking advantage of the larder.