Yesterday I had a nice long chat with my neighbour Jean-Claude; he from his tractor, me struggling to contain Bok's excitement.
Amongst other topics, we discussed the fact that the Magpies are nesting very high in the trees this year; in fact they can't get much higher (see pic).
Superstition has it that this heralds a very dry and hot Summer.
How Magpies are supposed to know this, I'm not sure. Even our most up to date meteorologists, with all their fancy satellites, etc, often can't predict the same afternoon's weather.
Maybe they should catch a bag-load of Magpies and study their moods, comportment, and reactions. If they really can predict a very dry and hot Summer they'd be worth studying.
Mind you, I've never known a Summer here that wasn't dry and hot; but that's probably best not mentioned when superstition is afoot.
'Ahh folk lore. Our owls can tell us when someone is going to die....so they say. Our magpies seem to have moved on, maybe to higher places. Don't know why they bother with weather forecasts in the summer. As you say, every summer is hot hot and hotter
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Magpies will prove to be right; I certainly doubt if they'll prove to be wrong.
DeleteThey are quite some nest builders.
ReplyDeleteWhy so big, I wonder. Unless of course they're just adding to last year's nest.
DeleteWe have two magpie nests at the top of one of our nearby hedging trees, which the magpies return to every year. They are a thorough nuisance as in years past they have taken newly laid eggs and young chicks. We would really like to discourage those magpies from using those nests, but the nests are too high up to remove!
ReplyDeleteI rather like Magpies; I think of them as European Parrots.
DeleteThe only bird here that is doing something is the Stork who brings the babies.
ReplyDeleteCan you send him to Australia.... we're still waiting!
DeleteYael's comment made me laugh. I keep popping in to see if there is any baby news yet...
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I'm hoping you will have a granddaughter born on my birthday (Thursday March 23) !
DeleteMagpies are very intelligent birds in the bird world - they're compared to be as intelligent as chimpanzees in the animal world.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
I'm sure they are; I like them, but mostly people seem to detest them. They have a bad reputation.
DeleteThe magpies in Oz are very musical.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very generous word for them.
DeleteAnd like in NZ NOT to be approached at nesting time..even riding by on a bike in November is a risky business
DeleteAh yes, Cro, there are a lot of things best not mentioned where superstitions are concerned. There are a lot fo them and the irony is that many are not even counted as superstitions.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour continued by telling me about when to plant Potatoes by the phases of the Moon. I've never taken note of Lunar phases, and my crops have always been good.
DeleteWell, Cro, you obviously have a natural affinity with the moon.
DeleteThere is something to be said for following the lunar calendar even if not the whole biodynamic system. I tried it for two years on my allotments and it certainly led to quick germination, healthy plants and better crops than previous
DeleteAround these parts, they do say that if you can't see the Magpies high in the treetops, then it be a foggy day.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a Scottish Isle where they say "If you can't see the island it means it's raining, and if you can see the island it means it's about to rain".
DeleteI'm not sure whether there is a Scottish Isle (on the West Coast anyway) where they don't say that.
DeleteIt would be fun to watch them fly in.
ReplyDeleteWe have quite a large population of Magpies, so see them flying around all day long. We never used to have so many.
DeleteWhen the Magpies swarm down into my woods, all the other birds seem to go into hiding. I am looking out my window now to see if there are any high nests out there on the tall trees, but the only ones that stand out are the ones built by the squirrels. I wonder if that means that it will be a nutty year ahead.
ReplyDeleteOur (red) Squirrels are quite aggressive. If I disturb them they scream at me... it's un-nerving.
DeleteWe only seem to have superstitions regarding winter weather, although I think there is one about cows lying down means it's going to rain. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI think when Cows lie down it means they're having a rest... just like us.
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