The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a protected species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and their conservation listing in Queensland is “Least Concern”.
Magpies are an Australian icon and well-known for their flute-like songs. Their vocal skills allow them to mimic over 35 species of native and introduced birds, as well as domestic animals and humans. To match this musical voice, they also have excellent hearing which they use to hunt lawn grubs below the surface of the soil with amazing accuracy (96 out of 100 grubs detected!).
Not only are they musical, juvenile magpies can be very entertaining.
Magpies live in groups of up to 24 individuals, and to the magpie, their home is their castle. The ideal site includes nesting trees, roosting trees and a grassy feeding area. Without this kingdom, life can be hard, with constant attacks from neighbouring groups and nowhere to raise a family. As a result, magpies are very territorial. They are also very protective parents and during the breeding season, from July to December, this can lead to swooping behaviour if a magpie feels that their family is under threat. Usually, less than 10% of magpies will target humans with this defensive behaviour, and often it is only directed at a certain group of people (e.g., cyclists, children).