Magpie poser??

[chunkychambers]

I was out this morning as usual and came across 17 magpies all together on top and below a small hedge.
Now, I always thought that Maggies don't flock together but if thats true it would suggest that this 17 are this years brood!!
Any thoughts??
It's certainly a large brood if it is one family

[Andy Warne]

They do flock together, largest gathering I've seen was 29! I'm not sure that the rhyme goes up that far though.

[chunkychambers]

Thanks Andy, 29 eh that's a lot of magpies.

[nightshade]

There were around a dozen in a solo Hawthorn in the middle of a field this a.m.

[Andy Warne]

Strangely that was when I lived in Birmingham, I've never seen anywhere near that number together in the countryside. Same story for jays, I saw 9 flying together when I've only ever seen at most 5 together in the countryside.

[rlchew]

I remember seeing about 30 Magpies together some years ago.

Anyone know what the collective name/noun is for Magpies?

Richard

[mrs fish]

I don't know their collective name but they have a parliment every now and again when alot will gather to-gether, this usually happens in the spring and they all do their chattering noise.

[Andy Warne]

Originally Posted by rlchew

I remember seeing about 30 Magpies together some years ago.

Anyone know what the collective name/noun is for Magpies?

Richard

Just had a quick google and there are lots of suggestions, best one was "a mischief of magpies".

[chunkychambers]

Can I just widen the thread a little and ask your opinions of Maggies.

They are a bird that kills for the fun of it, they be-headed a whole brood of great tits in my garden last year, are they pests even vermin or is it wild-life in action.

What do you think???

[wildone]

Wildlife in action I would say. After all do birds do anything for 'fun'? And lets face it if so many Blue Tits, Great Tits etc. were not killed by other creatures, with the size of broods they have, we would in a couple of years be swamped by them.