Why do magpies do this ?

[biggs682]

ok i know this site is not nature watch , but one of you might have a reason why , we have started getting a magpie coming into the garden for food etc , and we have noticed each time it takes scraps it drops the food into the bird bath before flying off ,with the wet scraps .

no other bird we have come in to the garden does this so why do magpies ?

 

[Dayvo]

One for sorrow . . . !

 

[Sambu]

soften them up for its chicks!

 

[ELL]

The answer is simple. The food has been on the floor he is just doing what you or I would do and washing it first

 

[Globalti]

Clever birds, magpies. They are strongly territorial and when a new magpie moves into the area there will be a barney over the food rights. All the local magpies will have an interest in knowing who wins because it will affect their territory so they will gather in a Parliament to watch the outcome. Fascinating.