Feeding Birds in my Garden

I used to feed about a dozen Butcher Birds and two magpies. Then the magpies started nesting and became unfriendly towards the other birds. They chased away the butcher birds by diving at them and not letting them come to the verandah where they were all being fed. Then they chased away the timid curlews who were also coming down below on the grass.

Soon all I had was three magpies. Junior joined the party.

I started feeding them all by hand, to mainly stop one bird taking control and eating all the food. This was great fun, the magpies would sit on the verandah and wait their turn while I chatted to them and watched their interaction with each other.

One day, a Kookaburra came. I was so excited. I fed him slivers of rump steak and he was very happy. Soon other Kookaburras started to come too and I was feeding six birds. They became every aggressive with the other birds and chased them all away, including the magpies. I now only had the Kookaburras. I started feeding them…