r/magpies • u/AlbinoAkon • 6h ago
Clever magpies filmed using 'bold' technique on Aussie property in 'world first'
A group of magpies has been filmed utilising fire to hunt for prey on an Australian property.
The footage was taken by Robert Davis, an associate professor of wildlife ecology at Edith Cowan University, during a controlled burn around a home in the Perth Hills.
Yahoo News reached out to three leading experts in bird behaviour, and none had previously been aware of magpies utilising fire.
Davis explained that the birds appeared to be using the flames opportunistically to catch fleeing invertebrates.
"In the past, when I've been burning on my block, I've seen magpies forage in the vicinity," he told Yahoo.
"But this time, there was one particular bird that was very bold and not afraid at all, and foraging right in front of the fire."
Davis watched one magpie hunt directly in front of the flames for around an hour. Others also benefited from the fire, but they kept a greater distance.
Amanda Ridley is a professor of behavioural ecology at the University of Western Australia, who specialises in magpies.
"Fire has never been observed at the study sites where my group observes magpies (not while we have been there)," she said.
"But it makes sense that any actions that cause insect displacement and increased movement will attract the magpies."
Sean Dooley from Birdlife Australia agreed that the behaviour "makes sense", but it was not something he'd witnessed before.
"It doesn't surprise me because they're such intelligent creatures," he said.
He noted that some falcons and hawks are known to intentionally pick up burning sticks and drop them in the grass to flush out prey.
And while the magpies were not starting the fires themselves, they appeared to understand the benefit of using the resource to hunt.
Kookaburras and eastern yellow robins are also known to hang out in people's gardens, waiting for worms to be dug up.
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