INDEX	April 02, 2024
There used to be a children's tv show called Magpie that had a catchy tune based on (I believe) an ancient rhyme: One for Sorrow, Two for Joy etc. This morning I saw two Magpies, but how to categorise them? One of them (the very slightly larger) was making a tremendous display flapping his wings like a fan, or a fan used in a very promiscuous way. The smaller just really stood there. I guess she must have signalled some kind of willingness for he was soon on top of her and off. The whole thing lasted no more than a minute, including the wing flapping. I have never previously been able to tell the difference between male and female Magpies, and I guess I couldn't now. The size disparity was almost insignificant. But the really tricky question is do two conjoined Magpies count as one or two?
INDEX Jonathan Brind	April 02, 2024