Three years ago, shortly after Aileen Danielle moved into her apartment in Queensland, Australia, she noticed a pair of magpies nesting in a tree nearby. Knowing these native birds can be territorial, often swooping at passersby, Aileen decided to try to earn their trust.
“I was told that if you feed the magpies, they will recognize you as not being a threat,” Aileen told The Dodo. “So when I moved in, I decided to test the theory!”
Aileen began to leave little piles of mealworms for the birds on the grass out front.
Aileen Danielle
Since feeding the magpies, Aileen never once got swooped at. But that show of kindness did more than just prove she wasn’t a threat. It endeared her to them as a friend.
Before long, the two nesting magpies started bringing along their recently fledged son to share in Aileen’s offerings.
That’s when she noticed something wasn’t quite right about him.
The younger magpie was born with a crooked beak. Rather than open and shut symmetrically as it should, this bird’s beak was offset, like a pair of scissors.
“I think it may make foraging a bit of a challenge for him,” Aileen said.
Aileen Danielle
Aileen continued to feed the feathered family over the following months. But then something tragic happened. The crooked-beaked magpie’s father was hit by a car and died. After that, his mother flew away and never returned. Now, Aileen was his only friend — a role she hasn’t taken lightly
Just about every morning now, as Aileen steps out of her home to head off to work, the crooked-beaked bird rushes to greet her. She provides him with snacks to fill his belly, supplementing the food he struggles to collect on his own.
And in return, the magpie gives Aileen the sweetest reward.
“He always sings the same song to me,” Aileen said. “He definitely has a call for me.”
Aileen doesn’t always provide the magpie with food to ensure that he doesn’t stop trying to search for it on his own. But having a friend in Aileen has come as something of a lifeline.
“I can tell he’s very grateful for the food,” she said. “I see him struggling to forage.”
Magpies are considered some of the world’s smartest animals, exhibiting social intelligence and complex problem-solving skills. They also recognize human faces and remember who has been kind or mean to them.
The crooked-beaked bird no doubt genuinely views Aileen as a trusted friend.
Aileen Danielle
What began as a simple gesture toward a family of magpies three years ago has only continued to blossom since — as has Aileen’s appreciation for animals like them with each morning visit from her feathered friend.
“Honestly, [it’s] one of the highlights of my day,” she said.
Wild Bird Shows Up At Woman’s House And Demands To Be Let In“She was so happy and relieved.”