May 13th, 1969

Today marks a day when pandemonium broke out in k .

Mco Day#47

So this morning I had a dilemma in my hands (literally!). The magpies were unusually excited flying all about in front of the house. I had suspected there was probably a nest somewhere nearby. When I went out, my immediate neighbour to the right discovered the nest in his TNB meter box and decided to remove it (for whatever the reason!!). In it was a baby magpie (possibly 2-3 weeks old), one small (blue coloured streaks) unhatched egg and one shiny screw. He had put them all in a ubiquitous round plastic container, and asked if I would like keep it (since we seem to be kind to stray animals.. he pushed his suggestion  ), otherwise he was going to leave it at the guardhouse.  Becos our language differences and possibly I wasn't quite fully awake, I took it from them.

Foolishly I thought I could feed/care for it. But now, as I held that shivering bird, I realise there was no way that bird was going to eat (or drink) anything from my hand; I did try my best.

As I held it in my palm, I was literally praying that it would somehow survive!

We reconstructed its nest best we could in that round plastic box and proceeded to put it out in the palm tree ( up at the safest spot I could find, yes with a ladder and all). I was hoping the parents would see it and perhaps continue to care for it.

Aware that the cat was always around I kept a eye on it from afar. But what I didn't expect was a black crow showing up, hung onto the palm branch and peering into direction of the nest. I went ballistic and shoooed it away. (In my mind I had visions of it flying off with a baby-meal in its mouth).

Linda then suggested we put the nest in a hanging potted plant and leave it under our porch.

Did you see the screw? Apparently magpies like shiny objects in their nest. 

But after observing a long while, we became convinced the parent magpies are not able to detect its whereabouts under our porch, so i placed the entire pot on the gate pillar (temporarily) hoping to attract the parents attention. (Perhaps if they noticed its whereabouts in the pot it would come feed it under my porch).

But again, the menacing crow comes around (I wished I had a bb gun then).

So I had no choice, but to bring the pot back under my porch again. The fledgling 'baby magpie (pie-let??) couldnt make even a slightest sound, so what are the chances it will be found?

Linda shoots up a prayer and we waited..

This is what it looked like, the parent is perched up on the opp roof peak, possibly sizing up if it was safe to come check the pot hanging so close under the house. 

Then it happens, watch the video.

The moment it catches sight of its baby.

We were elated. But this is only the first day. Its future still unknown, but at least for today this lil fella has a decent chance.  

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they. Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 

Matthew 6:26-27







Epilogue

On the second night I had to bring in the pot into the house as I found lil fella on the ground ; it must have attempted to fly but was unsuccessful (twice! ). Don't know how long he was there but I didn't want the neighbourhood cat to chance on it. 
Before dawn I put the pot back outside hoping the parent wouldn't notice, but it was already watching from nearby. (i imagine  got pretty upset at the 'missing pot' ) 
Soon after I came in, it swung past once, before it landed to check on the lil fella. I went to fix my morning  coffee. After a while I noticed there was an uncanny silence (of activity). I didn't think it could have flown, but I did go out to check. True enough the lil fella was no longer there  After checking the ground a bit I realised  it must have flown off (with the mother!). That lil extra self belief only a mother could imparted.
Overall, I'm rather pleased with myself. Happy and sad.

I guess must be that empty nest feelin..