Is the magpie going to be O.K ?

jetgirl · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:09 PM

I noticed a magpie, with what appears to be a broken leg a few weeks ago. He/she couldn't put any weight on it, also making it harder for it to eat.

A few days later, it reappeared looking incredibly scruffy and unkept. I became slightly worried as I never like to animals suffer.

However, a few weeks later I have spotted the same magpie and it seems to be surviving OK (but the leg doesn't seem to get any better as it still cannot stand on it).

The other day I left some food scraps on my shed roof and 2 magpies came to eat and hide the small bits. Whilst they were busy storing and hiding bits of the food, the magpie with the broken leg- swooped in and took the whole chunk of scraps and flew away with it.

Neither of the 2 magpies seemed to notice and when they returned to the spot where the food was left, they were extremely confused where all the food had gone! They kept looking around and returning back to the food spot, tussled some moss trying to look underneath it etc but no luck.

I chuckled in amusement.

Anyway, this magpie seems to be fighting for survival, quite well. I was just wondering, do birds with broken legs get better in time? Or does this magpie have no hope of ever using his/her leg ever again?

wildliferescuer · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:28 PM

The leg may well heal in time, maybe not perfectly straight & the bird may have a permanent limp but they do often heal & a bird such as a magpie should manage perfectly well with a slightly imperfect leg. Obviously some birds, birds of prey in particular, need perfect use of legs & feet but hopefully your magpie will survive & will cope with its disability.

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:29 PM

Hi and a warm welcome to WAB. It could survive fairly easily, there are lots of birds out there with one leg and they seem to compensate, it's a member of the crow family and they are amongst the brightest of birds.

jetgirl · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:56 PM

Excellent!!

Come to think of it, I have seen a few city pigeons with only 1 leg and they seem fine!

Thank you so much for your positive feedback and welcoming me to this forum