Doctor J. Frink

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 21:06:13 +0000 (GMT), Rodney Blackall
<rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I have long had bird-baths in my gardens but I cannot recall ever seeing a
>corvid drinking or bathing in one. Are they too cautious or do they use
>only running water or do they have private clubs hidden away in the
>countryside maintained by fairies?

I've seen a Magpie using ours, although it was only using the water to
soften up some bread it had just taken. On the whole Magpies were quite
absent from the garden.

>I really cannot image a magpie or jackdaw being intimidated by a blackbird
>or sparrow!

I dunno, some Blackbirds are nuts.

Frink

--
Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
"No sir, I didn't like it!" - Mr Horse

SpiKe

"Doctor J. Frink" <frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:slrndo1una.169.frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk...


> I've seen a Magpie using ours, although it was only using the water to
> soften up some bread it had just taken. On the whole Magpies were quite
> absent from the garden.

I have a magpie in my garden and he (this is true) chases the 2 cats away -
pinches their cat biscuits from their bowl - takes the beak full of biscuits
up to the flat roof - places them in a puddle there (I assume to soften them
up) - goes and gets some more - and places them in the puddle - eats the
first lot - gets some more - eats the second lot - etc.etc.

Crows are known to be quite smart - but this is classed as intelligent
behaviour because he is "thinking" about the future. The real question is
whether he did it by accident the first time or if he did it intentionally -
if the latter then - Why did he do it ??

The only bird in the garden that he is wary of is.................... = Mrs
Magpie his wife = He may have the brains but she is the boss.

Mmmmmmmmmm that sounds familiar ;-)

Kate

"Doctor J. Frink" <frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:slrndo1una.169.frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk...
> On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 21:06:13 +0000 (GMT), Rodney Blackall
> <rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>I have long had bird-baths in my gardens but I cannot recall ever
>>seeing a
>>corvid drinking or bathing in one. Are they too cautious or do they
>>use
>>only running water or do they have private clubs hidden away in the
>>countryside maintained by fairies?
>
> I've seen a Magpie using ours, although it was only using the water
> to
> soften up some bread it had just taken. On the whole Magpies were
> quite
> absent from the garden.
>
>>I really cannot image a magpie or jackdaw being intimidated by a
>>blackbird
>>or sparrow!
>
> I dunno, some Blackbirds are nuts.
>
> Frink
>
> --
> Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
> See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
> Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
> "No sir, I didn't like it!" - Mr Horse

I have seen a pair of crows soften stale bread in the birdbath as
well. One of this same pair also dug a hole in the veg patch (with
its beak) and buried a large crust for later.

Kate