Magpie

Sounds lovely "Magpie" doesn't it? Sweet, friendly, cute, cuddly magpie...WRONG! This bird is the real reason Australians wear hats. Among the many perils of Australian wild life are these black and white birds, crow-like in shape but thankfully a bit smaller. They are ubiquitous throughout the area and dive-bomb pedestrians and dogs in a Hitchcockian manner. This is because Magpies are probably the world's best parents. One can hear the constant call of the baby magpie imploring their mother to feed it. In fact, nearly fully mature magpies will hop behind their mother peeping incessantly while the mother picks up bugs and shoves it into the young one's mouth. All day. Surely this youth, the same size as it's mother can fetch its own bugs? Feels somehow familiar and I empathise with the busy mum. It is when the chicks are in the nest that the dive bombing begins. People walking their dogs, children biking to school, mailmen delivering mail all fall victim to this ferocious parent of animal kingdom. ...That said, it would make a good drinking game: