I'm interested to know..Do budgies have a natural instinct to be fearful of say Magpies?

 

Charley in his cage in front of the window (blinds not fully open) sitting "statue like" still this morning. I noticed there was magpie sitting on the window sill outside. Charley is always noisy and lively first thing in the morning, (sometimes ANNOYINGLY noisy!!)... but there he was .. totally still, not moving a feather. The magpie flew off after a few minutes.. now Charley is chirping and busy with his usual acrobatic antics. forgot to add... he is never nervous or afraid of anything or anybody coming close to him, which is why I was interested why THIS time he sat totally motionless!!

 

Do magpies attack budgies in the wild and would Charley have an instinctive feeling of this??? I'm interested to know!!

Edited October 25, 200717 yr by thk

"Magpies are omnivorous, eating various items located at or near ground level including invertebrates such as earthworms, millipedes, snails, spiders and scorpions as well as a wide variety of insects - cockroaches, ants, beetles, moths and caterpillars and other larvae. Skinks, frogs, mice and other small animals as well as grain, tubers, figs and walnuts have also been recorded. The Australian Magpie is predominantly a ground feeder, pacing open areas methodically searching for insects and their larvae. One study showed birds were able to find scarab beetle larvae by sound or vibration. Birds will also take handouts from humans and will often venture into open houses to look for food. They also eat small animals like lizards and worms. They may also eat their own digestive products."

 

"The Black-billed Magpie is a. notorious predator of songbirds’ nests."

 

"Placing the budgie cage in front of a window or even outside can help to prevent any cage boredom with a more established pet. It is however important to remember that the sight of any natural predator such as magpies, raptors and cats."

 

From a quick internet search.. looks like they are a natural predator.

 

Edited October 25, 200717 yr by Ravengypsy

I think they have an instinctual fear of any bird bigger than themselves, especially if it’s shaped like a hawk or owl. I notice that even if I put a new Cockatiel in my aviary with the Budgies, they are scared stiff for a few hours until they realise it’s not going to harm them. I think that they could easily have inbuilt instincts to protect them, as I have notice my cockatiels that have been bred in aviaries in a bird room complex that have never experienced rain, will go into instinctual bathing responses when they hear the sound of rain. Magpies are real aggressive birds to other birds in the neighbourhood, but wouldn’t eat adult birds, but would eat babies if given the chance. Budgies babies in nature are probably safe, because of being in hollow tree trunks, but the parents could easily be hassled by Magpies.

I have had a lot of butcher birds and magpies go at my birds cage and aviary. I just usually keep an eye out for them and if I see one try to shoo it away. I'm not entirely sure if they will go them in the wild but I have heard of stories of them doing so.

My aviary birds go very quiet when a large bird is nearby. We have Magpies, chicken hawks and crows land on top of our aviaries and take young chicks ( wild birds...doves and hummingbirds ) from the nests in our hibiscus near the fishpond.

Edited October 26, 200717 yr by KAZ

thanks. Thats so interesting. I think also that perhaps the magpie (could even have been a butcher bird, they do look similar from a bit of a distance) may have been attracted to the sound of Charley. Luckily we and the window are up high (second floor) and the balcony doesnt extend to that window so no cats can get to the window sill. I find it amazing that the little guy knew what to do ..i.e. keep very still and quiet as he's normally just the most confident, active and noisy little fellow around who rarely sits still!

 

I let him out now almost daily and he loves a fly around the room, amost always lands on my shoulder or head. He's starting to bite harder though and I hope I can get him out of that my saying "ah-ah-ah-ah" very loudly and if he continues to bite I push him off my arm or wherever he's biting me from at the time. Its hard to know how strongly to "punish" him as I dont want to lose his confidence in me. I wonder if like in the dog world, budgies need to know who the "alpha" bird is (me!!).. does anyone know if it works with birds?? i.e. showing him who's boss cocky (me) or is that a waste of time with budgies?