Evil and treacherous Australian magpies (9 photos)

People in Australia are not only afraid of giant spiders, snakes and crocodiles. Here the locals are even hunted, it would seem, harmless magpies.





On the left is a sign warning of lawlessness on the part of birds. On the right is an anti-rope helmet.

In Australia, everyone is afraid of spiders, poisonous snakes and centipedes. A Do you know who you really need to be afraid of? Australian forty! Their beak and tightly otshibnaya character has already killed several people! And not a fact that they will stop there ... Australian magpies look like ordinary forty, despite the fact that their common ancestor lived dozens million years ago. These are the same black and white birds of medium size. But if our feathered neighbors are afraid of cats and dogs, then the Australian magpies the inverted continent tempered so that now they are not afraid of anyone and Nothing. The birds absorbed all the Australian horrors and began to sow fear.







Birds commit their atrocities with particular cruelty. Because the thinking of the Australian magpie is as developed as that of European cousins. A bird living in a city park remembers by sight about hundreds of more or less regular visitors, knows all the muzzles and beaks animal neighbors. She also knows dozens of melodies and shouts. In among the trills of other birds, the barking of dogs and the neighing of horses.



Such smart birds understand perfectly well what to cope with they can only become a strong adversary together. Therefore, flocks of forty settle in open areas and carefully protect their territory from any assaults, including forty from other gangs. To prevent sudden invasion, the birds always put up sentries watching surrounding space.



If a dangerous creature approaches the border of the realm, sentinels give an alarm, and the entire combat-ready population rises on the wing, surrounding the enemy from all sides. If a predator tries to attack on one of the birds, he will immediately lose control of the rear and get hit in unprotected place. It is impossible to defeat an owl or a hawk in this way, but to drive away is quite real. Predators quickly realize that in their trying to get to the nests, they will spend too much effort.



As you might guess, birds apply this tactic to people. Magpies, like vultures, surround a man and beat him exactly in back of the head. Fighting a fast and numerous enemy is unrealistic, therefore, in this case, a stampede is not considered a disgrace.



Fortunately, birds do this infrequently. After all, they are not only remember people's faces, but also remember their actions. If you every day walk through the park and do not pay attention to birds or even feed the birds, they will not touch you. But try to help a chick that has fallen out of the nest, and the flock will come to combat readiness every time you get close. 'Cause they'll take you for a predator that sleeps and sees how to feast on their cub.



But there is a risk of getting hit on the head, even if you are on good score. From June to September, birds converge, build nests and lay eggs. At this time, they become more anxious and aggressive. And some males turn into shaped paranoids. Any movement towards the nest may be perceived by them as an announcement war. Then the madman will rush at the enemy alone.



It is not difficult for an ordinary adult to fight off a single magpies, but sometimes the fight ends in death. Three cases are known death from the attacks of these birds, but we will not describe them. General the principle is violent blows to the head and possible entry infections.



It turns out that this small and impudent Australian magpie even more dangerous than the cassowary, which has 2 human lives on its account. But his growth reaches 1.5 meters, and 12-centimeter claws are capable of break through hard boards.