Magpies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Magpie

Perhaps the most entertaining birds in the world.

The Technical Center for the Multi-National company I am visiting is on the edge of an old industrial park on the outskirts of Birmnghm. The oldest buildings in the area date back to industrial revolution. The chemical plants in the park were sometimes the intended targets of German bombers in WW2, but Birmnghm was on the extreme of the German bombers operational range, and they had to fly many miles over land at night. Coventry is the first city they would come upon on their flight path, after crossing over miles of dark countryside. After suffering high losses to RAF fighters, most dropped their bombs on Coventry then turned tail for home. If you know any WW2 history at all then you know that Coventry was probably the most devasted English town from aerial bombing.

O.K. history sidetrip over. There is this small patch of woods between the chemical plants and the 'mill village', and the technical center where I have been meeting backs up to these woods. Yesterday 3 top executives from the company were tied up with me for 9 hours. This morning I was parked in the conference room on my own while they tended to duties neglected yesterday. I first caught a glimpse of a magpie through the window, then stood up to see what this large black and white bird was. What I first witnessed was 3 magpies relentlessly harrassing a house cat. They would tease the cat. One would get the cats attention by dancing or some other obvious deliberate action, then another would peck the cat's tail or nip him on the butt. This went on for 3-4 minutes before the cat finally had enough and headed back toward the houses on the other side of the woods. I then ambled outside and watched what I am guessing was a courtship ritual. It appears there were 2 males and one female in the group. (Bear in mind these birds are 18-20 inches long with a wingspan nearly 3 feet). The 2 guys took turns showing off, almost looking like they were flexing their muscles by holding one wing out then folding it slowly. The young lady took turns watching one then the other, then apparently decided she desired neither and left. The 2 guys then tussled a bit then went off, in search of mischief I'm sure.

Off and on today I was left alone in the conference room and always went to the window. The magpies were there several times. All I can say is that their interactions with each other were more like those of the weinerdogs than typical birds.

And more entertaining than British television.