Naturally West: Magpie love at the cemetery

Annette and Andrew Ross, locals from Glen Eden, like to exercise daily at Waikumete Cemetery. During their excursions in 2019 they became acquainted with some locals (the living ones that is). Specifically they noticed four groups of magpies living in the big macrocarpas, gums and pines of the cemetery environment and soon identified where each family group was nesting.

The nest that Jenny from Group B built predominately with used nylon eed-eater line.

Magpies in the cemetery are fitting given that they belong to the Corvidae family which includes ravens and crows, symbolising death. A magpie on a headstone is an eerie sight.

Annette and Andrew have dubbed the magpie groups A, B, C and D. They have also named the adults and can recognise them, despite the fact that the chicks are a similar size to the adults now.

Group A is Captain and Tennille who have one chick which has fledged and another chick from the same nest that hatched later. Jack and Jenny of Group B have raised three chicks in one clutch. Group C is Mister and Lady. This pair had an infertile egg but tried again and had one chick successfully. Lady has a deformed leg and is therefore cautious, not being able to flee quickly if necessary.

Group D is a mother (Maggie) and her chick, with no mate, but the Ross's believe that Jack from Group B is the father of her chick due to his frequent visits. They also note that Jenny, Jack’s regular mate, takes a noticeable dislike to Maggie. Maggie’s chick is the only one that the Ross’s have had physical interaction with. The chick had fledged normally but was pursuing an adult from another group, demanding to be fed. It was being aggressively rejected but did not appear to understand and kept running toward the threat. In the interest of the chick’s wellbeing, Annette carried it back to Maggie's territory.

Joining Annette and Andrew on a magpie safari one Wednesday in late spring, I was surprised to see that the magpies are quite restrained and civilised when they eat, taking their time to collect the morsels and flying off when they have enough, often to share with a chick or chicks.

During this visit, I was privileged to encounter the whole Group B family of five (a once a week event). Andrew pointed out that the chicks can be differentiated from the adults by their grey beaks, the adults’ beaks are white.

Magpies typically have a clutch of 3-4 eggs, but mostly only raise one chick as it takes one parent per chick to provide sufficient food.

Over the course of two seasons the magpies have got to know and trust Annette and Andrew. As they take a drive around the cemetery to visit each family group, the magpies will recognise the car and Andrew's whistle or Annette’s call and magically appear.

The upside of these encounters is that Andrew, a keen amateur photographer, has been able to capture images from closer than would be normal and he has captured some special moments.

The Ross's are humbled that the adults trust them enough to allow them into close proximity to both themselves and their chicks.

Normally magpies tend to keep to a territory in pairs or groups, and as many of us have experienced, they will

Maggie's chick was happy to be rescued

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Mister and Lady of Group C with their chick.

dive bomb people and dogs when they have chicks to protect. Magpies are fortunate to have few predators and will take on harrier hawks, thereby protecting other bird species, but they have been known to also predate native birds and their nests, though this appears to be rare. Andrew has photographic evidence of a Waikumete magpie hassling a white faced heron and a duck.

It is well known that magpies like bright and shiny things, but they also recycle. Jack and Jenny constructed their substantial nest using orange nylon weed-eater line Jenny collected from around the cemetery, along with twigs. At around 12 weeks, the nest is abandoned for good, with the chicks mostly fending for themselves, though they will revert to dependent behaviour when their parents are around, with self reliance encouraged by the parents around winter time, before the onset of the next breeding season.

Andrew Ross's own beady eyes are always open to a photo opportunity. On my visit, he spotted a kingfisher some distance away and retrieved his long lens camera from his car to zoom in on it. Birdlife is plentiful at Waikumete with its extensive tree plantings and wildflowers.

The Ross's have developed a special relationship with the magpies of Waikumete Cemetery and their observations over two seasons have given important insight into the social structures and behaviour of these intelligent birds.

More of Andrew's magpie photographs can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/ photos/andrewrosspoetry/albums/72157714519087997

page 6

“We’re quite renowned for our Titirangi Chorus when musicians start singing and the audience join in,” she says. “That’s much loved. People think they can’t sing and then they’ll recognise something and start singing.”

Non -members are welcome every fourth Friday (from February 26) and performers at club nights soon include Celtic music group Lothlorien on February 13 and High, Wide and Handsome on March 13.

“Some people are real musicians, who’ve been playing there since they were nine years old. They’re real enthusiasts. The quality of the music is fantastic and we have great nights,” Cathy says. “About 30 or 40 people turn up each time and it never gets flat, never gets stale. The music keeps on going.”

For more information visit www.titirangilivemusic. co.nz or text Cathy on 021 207 7289.

– Moira Kennedy

>> A slow tango into 2021, continued from page 8.

How do we make it truly accessible in a time of economic unease? How do we address sustainability in both practical and esoteric ways? How do we keep an eye on the world but through an Aotearoa lens? Digging into these questions is the work of the trust and producer right now and out of it will come another 'Going West' – recognisable but freshly minted for 2021.

And lastly, after many years of faithfully pursuing the dream of a writer’s residency in Maurice Shadbolt's Titirangi home of over 40 years, the Waitakere Ranges Local Board and the Going West Trust can declare victory. 2021 will see the beginning of a hand-over to the trust and will enable development of the site and project to proceed. Ultimately a programme of residencies will feed into the literary sector and become part of the wider Going West story.

In uncertain times the arts shore us up, make sense of the incomprehensible and articulate hope, compassion and kindness. They make us laugh at ourselves when life doesn't seem that funny. None more than our writers contribute to this ability to stand aside and look through fresh eyes. That's what Going West has been and will continue to be.

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