'They collect anything': Dangerous household item found in bird's nest
Wildlife workers have highlighted just how discarded everyday items can end up being dangerous for Australia’s wildlife.
Warriors 4 Wildlife shared a series of photos warning people of how a phone charger cord could be deadly for birds. The pictures show orphaned baby Magpies and their nest, which was wrapped in a phone charger.
The Warriors 4 Wildlife group told Yahoo News Australia that the Magpies were rescued from a tree which was being cut down. Apparently all other trees close by were also being cut down, so there was no where to re-home the birds.
“These orphaned baby Magpies were handed into the vet and after taking a closer look at their nest they found a phone charger cord, string and wire in amongst the nest material,” they wrote on Facebook.
Carla from Warriors 4 Wildlife said there were two orphaned birds, both of which are “doing wonderfully” and are with a carer.
She said most nests have rubbish in them.
“Magpies have a lot more than most,” Carla said.
She explained that babies and adult birds can get caught in the rubbish, which results in them getting pinned into the nest, sometimes even resulting in wounds and deformities on their legs.
“We get lots of birds with entanglements - from water birds with fishing line with hooks or lures, balloons and plastic, to birds walking around with cotton, string or wire around legs,” Carla said.
This often happens in industrial areas, where birds hang around and pick up rubbish, she said.
“Its not hard for people to put rubbish in the bin or clean up and pick up around the place at end of day at work to ensure it doesn’t happen.”
She acknowledged that magpies sometimes get a bad name, especially during swooping season but called the “amazing birds”.
“They have a great instinct like all animals they sense fear and hate.
“We make friends with magpies they then recognise us as being friendly and not a threat.”
Carla told Yahoo News Australia Warriors 4 Wildlife once had a male magpie who ‘adopted’ all the orphaned baby magpies that came through, sharing a cute video of the paternal bird.
“The dad was feeding up to 14 babies.”
“Wow they really do collect anything,” one person said in the comments.
“So glad they are safe,” another person wrote.
“Given people are pushing for swooping magpies to be shot, not realising that kind of action will lead to several chicks dying because mum and dad never came home.”
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