2020 magpie summary Pica pica part 2

2020 magpie summary part 2, the end of March until the beginning of June. The magpies are very skilled builders, using a wide variety of materials. Twigs in different thicknesses and forms on the outer shell. Grass reinforced soil to mold the solid center pit. Tiny twigs, straws, root threads and moss inside the pit. They use both force and vibration, both the beak and their feet to form the materials and to make them stick. The first couple of years, we did not understand why they did not re-use the nest again the next year, the construction being so nice and solid. Seing the growth of mold and all kinds of bad stuff in the pit the next year, it is understandable. So now we clean out the interior of the nest the moment the magpies leave. The following year (2021) it seems to work. The outer shell of the nest is mainly as a protection from crows. Crows, nice as they are by themselves, are regarded as enemies by both ’our’ magpies and seagulls. When there