Seen a magpie today? Or have you heard their tuneful song? If you live in Australia it's virtually impossible for you to go a day without encountering these amazing birds. We delight in their song, respect their stature, laugh at their comical antics, care for them and await their next visit. Some of us feed them and have a close bond with a local magpie family. But in nesting season some magpies defend their youngsters by swooping pedestrians, cyclists and posties. They don't all swoop and we don't all get swooped, but people with magpie troubles have devised some fanciful creations to thwart the local swooper, like eyes on umbrellas and zip-ties on helmets!
This book examines magpie society and our relationships with these intriguing birds. Read about their songs and mimicry, their territories and social hierarchies, how they parent and how they play. Insights come from South Australians through Operation Magpie, a Citizen Science project that received close to 2,000 responses. The book includes many personal anecdotes and revelations that convey how Australians experience and connect with this iconic bird.