pigeon master Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Fellas, not sure if anyone else heard the broadcast on radio 4 (I do a lot of driving I can’t take music for 8 hours) but they were on about our old foe the Magpie. Now we all know how alert and bright this littlebird is, however, did you know it’s the only bird that can recognise itself in the mirror. The only other animals that do this are, us humans, the great apes and dolphins ect. i.e very intelligent mammals. They tested it by sticking small white stickers on its beak, when it saw itself in the mirror it raised its claws to remove it, “clever eh†Also there’s a book about an old girl in Scotland who keeps a few corvids in her home, she commented that her Magpie would place small spoons on the tops of doors, then sit and wait for a victim to walk through the door, then take great pleasure in shrieking and jumping about happy as larry when someone knocked them off. It seems the Magpie is quite an opponent, maybe that’s why I’ve never shot one in all these years, I just never see the little ******* when I have a gun. The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Do you know was that programme recorded anywhere? I'd like to hear that. See I'd watch so many more nature programmes if they were actually about something interesting like that instead of some flipping leopard or lizard or a seal with a third flipper! Have a prog on corvids, or rats, or proper red foxes or something every day that's always around us. I mean how often do you meet an elephant when out with the shottie? Time for these nature people to live in the real world! About the most interesting nature prog I saw lately was on fire ants and that was all the way over in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted December 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 We should get a team together and make documentary’s on the local wildlife, I know what you mean though, there should be a series of all the fur and feather that make it to the Englishmans table. Pigeon Watch Productions Ltd lol I'd watch it for sure, The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Could be a problem there, one of us would spot something and by the time a camera got on it there'd be a cloud of feathers or a patch of fur left in it's place lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojusa Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Do you know was that programme recorded anywhere? I'd like to hear that. You might find it here on the BBCi player. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_radio_four/2008-12-11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 The little ****** wasn't so smart when he came flying towards my hide about a month ago...! It's strange to think that the more you shoot, the smarter they will become - it's natural selection that will make the most intelligent ones survive. I've walked out into a paddock that's got 5-8 magpies in it, they carry on happily. As soon as I have a gun, they're flying off as quick as possible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 Pigeon master, the book is 'Corvus' by Esther Wooflson: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corvus-Life-Birds-...0323&sr=8-1 It's an astonishing, very funny and insightful book. I am nearing the end of it now. I certainly have a new found respect for corvids. Not that it'll stop me shooting them though...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 When I was a lad I had one as a pet for a short time. It was thriving then died suddenly during a thunder storm if I remember it correctly. That used to come and knock on the back door when it was hungry. It learned that in a matter of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 The book was serialised on Radio 4 earlier this year. It was one of the few things that I downed tools and unplugged the phone for. If anyone has a copy they would like me to proof read for them I will be happy to oblige LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 Same here LB, it had me hooked. Cheers Baldrick for the link to the book. The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_haganizer Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Could be a problem there, one of us would spot something and by the time a camera got on it there'd be a cloud of feathers or a patch of fur left in it's place lol. Good one John, that comment's just had me in stitches mate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keen shot Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 nice writeup! and they are very clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 i'm reading Corvus as the moment, great book - make a nice Christmas present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santlache Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I've walked out into a paddock that's got 5-8 magpies in it, they carry on happily. As soon as I have a gun, they're flying off as quick as possible! Oh yes, clever little *******, I walk the fields with my Terriers, no gun, and the birds are jumping about having a great time. As soon as you go with your gun - they're off almost like they have a third sense. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I looked through here to see but found nothing obvious: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml Do you recognise a programme name PM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 it was here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d1fp1 but you can no longer listen which is a shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 almost like they have a third sense. It's all relative, I suppose. Poor *******. LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_mjs93 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 We should get a team together and make documentary’s on the local wildlife, I know what you mean though, there should be a series of all the fur and feather that make it to the Englishmans table. Pigeon Watch Productions Ltd lol I'd watch it for sure, The PM hey i think i may have to try that (im a bit of an amateur film maker , and i can make buisness videos, making one in feb for a family friend) so i think i may just have to make a documentary on "all the fur and feather that make it to the Englishmans table." i think i might try and do something like that just for PW... i think i might try that out soon... ill post a link for it if i can make one... should be a laugh... Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 :oops: Well, didn't know that. Think i'll get that book out the library, might explain why i can't shoot them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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