Please note: Eli (baby) was not harmed, I’m hand raising due to a wing injury.
It’s Eli's father in the video.
He has maintained daily contact with Eli but I've recently noticed the behaviour changing...
Should I be concerned?
I don’t know magpie body language and behaviour, I’m hoping this is merely a dominance display or right of passage ritual? Eli looks like he’s submitting, I’m just not sure where this will lead. I don’t want him hurt but I do want him returning to his rightful place in
the wild.
Eli's mum is visiting daily and feeding him. She has never shown this kind of behaviour with Eli.
The loud calls you hear in the video are hers. She swooops at one point (off screen) but doesn’t interfere or intervene. After I intervened the male took a few minutes, warbling and calling
to the female before they flew off to their tree (in the park nearby) together.
Eli’s Mum has been spending a few hours watching over him and teaching him to fly each day. Their relationship seems good, but she seems to get nervous/frustrated with his inability to fly. Just before this video was taken she was trying to get him to self feed... I raced inside to grab my mobile, hoping to capture the moment on camera, but when I returned the father had arrived.
Eli is vet checked, his wing is not broken but he needs longer to heal before he can fly. A wonderful lady with over 20 years Fauna rescue experience is guiding me in his rehabilitation.
Please, no negative comments, I needed to film this to understand the behaviour. Eli is never left unattended and I won't let the father repeat this if it's an aggressive or dangerous behaviour.
This video was also taken today, we are so proud of our little fighter!!
