Yesterday I posted a short video showing a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo trying to fend off a Monitor from it’s nest.
Well that cheeky Monitor is at it again! This time up a different tree near our chook pens and, since the chookies are inaccessible, he was after a Magpies nest of eggs.
In the short upcoming video, you will see how the Magpies defense differs from that of the Cockatoo. While both squawk as loudly as they can, the Magpie goes for a different attack and constantly swoops the Monitor at speed, trying to hit it with its pointy beak. Of course this is a dangerous game; whereas the Cockatoo attacked the tail, the Magpie attacks the head and you can hear the audible snapping of the Monitors jaw as it tries to bite the Magpie on each one of its strafing runs.
So watch and enjoy the second video of ‘Battle of the Natives’: Magpie vs Goanna:
Sadly the Magpie was not as successful as the Cockatoo. Later on in the afternoon my kids found two regurgitated eggs at the base of the tree – after all that fighting the Monitor couldn’t even keep the eggs down.
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Brave birds those magpies. The video isn’t as good (as clear) as the other one unfortunately but after such bravery I was sad to see the eggs all ruined on the ground. Hopefully the Maggie will lay some more somewhere harder to get.