About three months ago, I spotted a magpie with a broken wing running around the front garden. After seeing hundreds of birds with similar injuries, I suspected that, even if I could catch this bird, it would only be euthanized by a vet. So, to be honest, I was quite relieved that I couldn’t catch it.
I’ve been leaving food and water out for it and have been utterly astonished by how well it’s getting around. It’s like the roadrunner, it runs, jumps and hops, it climbs trees and glides down from them, it’s strong and fast, and now even has a mate who protects it from the many cats that hang around the garden.
As I was watching numerous videos from the wildlife camera of the magpie, it suddenly dawned on me that I could end up witnessing a cat killing it. How awful that would be. Thankfully it’s wild and wary and seems to have adapted to its disability brilliantly.
As well as attracting endless cats, the front garden seems to be hedgehog heaven. Here, Curly is completely ignoring a hog, he also ignores the magpie, but spends his life chasing invading cats away.
There are two hogs in this shot, what ever happened to them being solitary creatures? Night after night they appear together.
This hog is riddled with ticks, how I wish I could nip out and catch it. I’m working on hubs at the moment, trying to get him to bring it in, so I can remove all the ticks.
He’s stubbornly refusing!
I have also spotted a very small hog out there, I need to check its weight, to make sure it’s heavy enough to hibernate. Hubs is prepared to bring that one in, if he can find it. He’ll just have to go out every hour…..
Sighs…..a wildlife camera can be a dangerous thing!
And Finally….
How CUTE is that???
It is such a pleasure downloading the video and photos each morning, I lose hours! It’s brilliant for learning more about hedgehog behavior too, watching the hogs at night reminds me why their closest relative is the pig, they look just like them. I’m surprised how long their legs are when stretched…..so much to learn! Hopefully it won’t be long before I can get out and sort the ones needing attention.xxx
I can’t think of anything more perfect than a wildlife cam for a wildlife lover like you! And what finds! John will have to resign himself to more rescues at odder hours — at least until you are able to do your own nipping out.
Maybe those two hogs have become travelling buddies. Regarding your husband, I think my response would be the same if I faced a similar request.
It is unusual seeing hogs together given they are solitary, I suspect it’s mother and child and that the youngster is mighty persistent. What are you and hubs like??? Thanks Jason.xxx
Sweet Pete, those ticks need to come off! What’s keeping hubs from bringing him in? The last shot is adorable!
Hubs struggles to hold the large prickly ones, he’ll come around though, he usually does! That last shot is priceless isn’t it? Thanks Casa.xxx
The biggest problem with wildlife cams is that they’re so easy to begin watching…and watching…and watching… I lost almost a whole month once, waiting for some ospreys to fledge. And then there was the hummingbird building her nest, and the cam on the game feeder that turned up deer, raccoons, possums, coyotes, and wild hogs. There’s a whole world out there once our human lights go out. My mother used to tell me nothing good ever goes on after midnight, but there’s no question some very interesting things do happen!
I’m glad to hear the news about your recovery, too. Six thousand steps is good, and being pain free is even better. It must be hard to have to see some of the activity, especially with the hedgehogs, and not be able to do anything about it, but if you cause damage to yourself, you’ll be out of action of their behalf even longer.
We do adapt, though, just like your magpie. I hope you both continue to do well!
My camera is left out, then the video and photographic footage is downloaded to the computer, so not as problematic as a permanent one, I would lose time watching those too!
Thanks Linda, my recovery is going well, slow but steady, you certainly have to be patient!xxx
I see what you mean about the ‘troubling’ occurring from the advent of the roving eye of the camera. It really is a fascinating and privileged position to be in. All that interesting and unexpected animal behavior and interaction beautifully evidenced.
The day, temperature and time information was also useful and was a talking point here.
Xxxx
Technology can be a wonderful thing can’t it? It is wonderful being able to see what is going on at night, but also a little worrying at times, you just never know what you’ll capture. Hopefully I can sort those hogs out, that’s a positive. Our weather has been extremely mild, although wet and windy at times, all that is about to change this weekend I hear. Thanks Menhir.xxx
Let’s hope you don’t witness any wildlife murders. We love our game camera and seeing all the nighttime activity. Our fear is seeing a coyote kill the cat the stalks our trail.
Having now read your post I get how you fear a coyote may kill that cat, hopefully you don’t capture that! You just can’t predict what you’ll find on these cameras, it is a little nerve wracking, but endlessly fascinating. Thanks Brenda.xxx
Talk about night time dramas……the camera really shows it all! I’m so glad the magpie has a mate & that they are keeping out of the way of cats. In some parts of Canberra cats have to be kept in garden enclosures because they are having a devastating effect on wildlife. I love your little hedgehogs .. The last photo is especially cute.
I was really pleased to see the magpie paired up with an able bodied bird, I actually watched the healthy one dive bombing at cat that was stalking it’s mate. I had no idea that cats are devastating your wildlife, what a shame. Garden enclosures seem a good way to go, it must be costly building them though. I laughed at that last photo, it didn’t look real it was that cute.xxx
Having a night camera gives a different perspective on what is going on in your garden with the wildlife. Glad the magpie has survived and is managing to get around. I hope you’re getting even more mobile yourself.
It is wonderful to be able to see what goes on at night in the garden, the sheer number of cats amazed me, and the fact that none of them have been able to catch that magpie who seems to go from strength to strength. I am steadily becoming more mobile thank Linda.xxx
I am so happy that you have that camera, Dina! How cool is that?! Thank you so much for sharing these with us. I love all the hedgies and how very well the magpie is doing.
And a big smooch to Curly for being such a dutiful sheriff (so far) and protecting the magpie and hedgies in his domain!
What a wonderful post! Thanks and love, K.
Thanks Kitty, it is marvelous being able to see what goes on outside, technology is a fantastic thing! That magpie is astonishing, long may it continue to do well. Poor Curly must be exhausted chasing all those cats! Hope all is well with you and the joint is calming down.xxxx
I hope your magpie survives. We used to have a wildlife camera in the garden. It was triggered by movement and we ended up with hours of footage to go through as it switched on whenever the wind blew the plants.
The magpie is still around and doing well, long may that continue. My camera is pretty good at ignoring plants and only captures living creatures 99% of the time.xxx
Oh my this has given a whole new dimension to yours and Hub’s life. 🙂 That last shot of the little hog looking over the edge of the bowl is adorable……Can you observe what’s going on from your bed? Now that would be a great idea……
Sending love and hoping that the hip is healing more every day. Janet xxx
You can easily lose time watching the video footage each day! Fascinating though. That is such a fab pic, it had me laughing, it doesn’t look real! You can get live cameras that you can watch from anywhere, that will be my next venture!Thanks Janet, I’m healing well thank goodness.xxx
How marvellous to have a night camera, I’d love to see what goes on in the garden at night. You are lucky to have these cute hedgehogs, we never see them here.
Buying that camera was one of the best things I’ve done, it’s great to take away too. Shame about your lack of hogs, you’ll have to adopt some from a local rescue.xxx
Nature never stops amazing us all! (I guess I already said that many times)… animals may adapt, many humans don’t (sometimes even don’t try to).
The problems with cats, going free around the garden, are just these: you may stumble on a little cadaver lying in front of your garden door. Actually, the cats coming to feed themselves once a day, think to do a good act of politeness… but I don’t appreciate mice or little birds being killed just because of “primordial instinct”. Well, actually that is another story. I guess you are getting back to shape 🙂
Hugs and lovely thoughts, dear Dina! Have a great week end :-)claudine
I’m always surprised by how animals adapt to sudden disabilities, they are also very good at suffering in silence. Oh, I get what you mean about cats and their offerings, Curly was always killing something, thankfully he’s now too old and fat. Thanks Claudine, I am coming on well.xxx
Fabulous heartwarming post, Dina, I loved reading this. I’d be glued to the webcam all the time, especially watching those little hedgehogs pootling around. I hope that you manage to locate the littlest hog to make sure he’ll be okay for hibernating; It’s interesting to see the fluctuations in temperature from night to night – I guess we really are beginning to feel autumn biting. Also, there are loads of cats roaming here at night (and foxes) but I’ve only once seen a killed bird. That, sadly, was a jay. I hope your magpie survives, they’re beautiful creatures. Caro xx
Thanks Caro, I do look forward to seeing what I have captured each night, I’m amazed at how many cats hang around here. Little hog and ticky hog are being evasive to date, but caught they will be. It’s been surprisingly warm here, so plenty of opportunity to see out, long may that last.xxx
“How CUTE is that???” … it is just the cutest thing, what a great photo.
Amazing to see and read about the magpie, may it continue to do well.
We’ve had quite a few squirrels recently, they sit in the tree and eat seeds … so fun to watch.
Have a good weekend, and keep healing well.
All the best Jan
That little hog is just adorable! I saw the magpie today, still going strong and climbing trees. Good you have squirrels, I could watch them all say, so agile and amusing. Thanks Jan.xx
How fascinating that you’ve got a camera out there and can see what’s going on! It must add to your knowledge all the time. Maybe your magpie is an alter ego …after all, one of your ‘wings’ is dodgy too … how are you doing? xx
It is interesting seeing what goes on each night, I had no idea so many cats hung around the garden at night. Your magpie comment had me smiling, yes….an alter ego! I am suddenly doing surprisingly well, I increase my steps each day, up to six thousand today. The pain is going too, I haven’t use painkillers in weeks. Onwards and upwards eh…Thanks Gill.xxx
Yeah! These cameras are fascinating….always surprising……Super pics. Hugs!
Wildlife cameras are fascinating, you never know what they will capture, I do look forward to viewing the nights activities each morning. Thanks Bushka. Hugs.xxx
Lovely post and pictures. Good to see that the magpie is doing okay. That last picture has me smiling.
Thanks Flighty, that little hog is gorgeous! It’s very photogenic.xxx
How lovely to see your wildlife shots – so many hedgehogs, you lucky thing. I’m so glad that the magpie is managing well. The last time we took an injured duck to the vet, they put it down, so I’m also glad that you haven’t managed to catch it. Long may it evade the cats. xx
We are lucky having so many hedgehogs in the garden, especially given how their numbers are dropping. Each year there are lots of hoglets which is really good news. Some vets are a little gun ho re putting wildlife to sleep, we often have to fight their corner in the rescue. Yes, here’s to that magpie keeping safe. xxx
Awww, that’s so cute. I was thinking the same thing as I was reading the beginning of this post, I hope the camera didn’t catch a cat killing the magpie. I’ve just recently hung up one of those coconuts filled with suet on the tree right to the side of the window and a magpie keeps visiting to have his fill. Archie’s taken a severe disliking to it and goes berserk when he sees it, though he never seems to bother about other birds.
How odd that Archie should take such a dislike to the magpie, dogs!!! That little hog is utterly adorable, I just need hubs to catch it now so I can weigh it.xxx