Cyn's Nature Notes: Unusual Co-operation Between Jays and Magpies

Monday 14 October 2013

Unusual Co-operation Between Jays and Magpies

WOW!!! Amazing sight this afternoon. A pigeon was leisurely flying along the middle side lawn about three feet up. when a sparrowhawk spotted him and suddenly swooped down on him. They flew the length of the middle lawn with their bodies interlocked, they briefly landed on the lawn before taking off again and flying through the arch on to the top lawn, where I lost sight of them.

As this was happening two jays and six magpies flew along above them, screeching loudly. Although I was unable to see the pigeon and sparrowhawk, I knew they were still there as the eight aforementioned birds were still flying back and forth and making a fearful noise.

I chose to stay indoors and to not disturb the happening because from bitter experience I have learned that the poor preyed upon bird always dies. Even if you are outside when it happens and you scare away the sparrowhawk, shock sets in and very quickly kills the poor creature. Another point to think about is that the sparrowhawk will carry on hunting and yet another creature will lose its life.

Although I did not like what happened, I was spellbound at the speed and hunting techniques of the sparrowhawk. It was also astonishing the speed with which the jays and magpies came, there were there in an instant, and I found it interesting how the jays and magpies worked together, as the magpies don't tolerate the jays in the garden usually.

1 comment:

Howard21 November 2021 at 11:55
I am fascinated by the relationship between jays and magpies. It is now autumn and you would expect a visiting jay would be after acorns for its winter larder but we don't have any oak or ilex oak trees nearby.
What seems to happen is this.
The jay flies in and starts squawking loudly. Within seconds two or more magpies fly in and add their harsh voices to the cacophony. The jay frequents our hawthorn tree most and it is covered in ivy.
It almost seems as if the jay is calling for the magpies to come and join it.
What is going on? This is not just an isolated incident. It happens most mornings. It is now November.
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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.