'I salute, I spit, and I count down from 10' (BBC News) (1 Viewer)

[BF Newsroom]

Why are magpies so often hated? (BBC News)

Magpies are now one of the most common birds in the UK, says the RSPB. But they've also become one of the birds people most love to hate. Why?

More from BBC News...

 

[liverpool_bob]

Magpies are now one of the most common birds in the UK, says the RSPB. But they've also become one of the birds people most love to hate. Why?

More from BBC News...

"now the 13th most commonly seen bird in British gardens" - that's stretching the meaning of 'one of the commonest birds in the UK' somewhat... they're not even the commonest corvid!


Cheers,
Bob.

 

[BF Newsroom]

Who really hates magpies so much that they freeze at the mere sight of one? Radio 4 presenter Paddy O'Connell, for one. Here he explains his utterly irrational loathing of the bird.

More from BBC News...

 

[Twite]

The man is obviously a T**t.

Twite.

 

[Pete Mella]

Someone so superstitious must have some kind of mental condition, surely?! That's got some of the hallmarks of OCD.

If not, I can't believe someone would believe such stupidity in this day and age, let alone that those people are then given jobs as BBC journalists!

 

[thenorthernmonkey]

i would have thought the most common bird in the uk was Jade Goody!!!

 

[deborah4]

Apparently extends to non-eurasian magpies too (assuming that's an Australian white-back in the photo??)

I think the article is slightly tongue in cheek

 

[Quercus]

They're a rarity in these parts...... so I like them!... i get all excited going into Glasgow and spotting the first one (for sorrow........!)

.

 

[Osprey_watcher]

Loads around here. Used to hate them but now just like watching them.
I have seen a few single out a young magpie and just kill it. No obvious reason. Thats why I didn't like them, but what the hell it's nature.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

Many years ago the government ran an information/advertising campaign against thieves and sadly (to me anyway) used Magpies as villains of the piece obviously because of their fascination for collecting brightly coloured shining things. I think the headline/punch line was "Thieving Magpies" and the association stuck. Sorry I don't know how else to put that.

There is also a rhyme or saying that I cannot remember properly, something like One for Joy, two for sadness, old people were supersitious and I remember my grandparents chanting it on drives out in the countryside if we saw Magpies.

I often have two eating here and they do not seem to cause the small birds any concern. A few year ago I had one with a bad leg stay around he obviously found my bird seed and nuts I threw a few on the ground for the Jays an easy source of food. I love the colours of their feathers, they are striking birds.

Ann :egghead:

 

[Quercus]

One for sorrow
Two for joy
three for a girl
Four for a boy
five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told............................


Aye Aye Cap'n

 

[Quercus]

.......................Because one is for sorrow..... if you ever see one on it's own, you're supposed to say "Aye aye Cap'n"

Or if you're a bit camp "Hello sailor!"

 

[TomSmith]

Many years ago the government ran an information/advertising campaign against thieves and sadly (to me anyway) used Magpies as villains of the piece obviously because of their fascination for collecting brightly coloured shining things. I think the headline/punch line was "Thieving Magpies" and the association stuck.

Rossini's opera The Thieving Magpie dates from 1817; so the association is at least a little older than your information/advertising campaign!

 

[dantheman]

Rossini's opera The Thieving Magpie dates from 1817; so the association is at least a little older than your information/advertising campaign!

I recall when I was a bit younger I came across a thieving magpie storyline in a Postman Pat book . . .

Actually this love them or hate them Magpie thing isn't all black and white . . erm? Or is it?

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Tom,

Thank's for reminding me about the opera.

I still think the tv campaign reinforced the "thieving magpie" image as it reached a wider audience who believed what they saw, before magpies were just another bird to a lot of the population if they noticed any.

Quercus, Thanks for the rhyme I never was any good at learning poetry when at school and country folk were so superstitious about everything, there will be a library somewhere full of books with all the old sayings in.

Ann :egghead:

 

[Osprey_watcher]

.......................Because one is for sorrow..... if you ever see one on it's own, you're supposed to say "Aye aye Cap'n"

Or if you're a bit camp "Hello sailor!"

My sister insists on clapping to ward off the bad luck. One clap for each Magpie. A bit disconcerting when she's driving down the motorway.