If I told you there was a hippopotamus on my roof eating cake you wouldn’t believe me, would you? No. Because we all know hippos don’t eat cake. Right?
But if I told you that right now there is a magpie on my roof making noises like a police car, you’d TOTALLY think I was normal and believable, wouldn’t you? Well, there is. We have a magpie that makes noises like a police car. We really do. I tell no lies.
I first heard him a few months ago, and I wondered why on earth there were so many police car pursuits in the sleepy area that we live. It didn’t make sense. But I shrugged it off and bought deadlocks for the windows just in case.
And then it kept happening and it sounded like it was just outside my window. So I looked, and there was a magpie. Still, I shrugged it off. Magpies don’t make noises like police cars.
Except they do. I came to realise that the noise was indeed coming from a magpie and I wasn’t actually crazy. Huzzah. I told Hubby and he feigned interest and belief*.
One day I was across the road playing with Lacey and Ma was along for the ride, and the siren {aka magpie} went off. “You hear that Ma?” I asked. “The siren? Yes…” she replied. “It’s a magpie, not a police car.”
Cue shock and amazement and disbelief. “Don’t lie,” she insisted, “It’s a police car.”
The disbelief continued for a couple of minutes, with the siren continuing in the background, and I tried to push my point, failing. I pointed out the magpie, and urged her to move closer. The proof was in the pudding. I was right. Huzzah.
A few moments later my neighbour Val walked past, and I decided to ask her, “Have you ever heard that magpie that makes noises like a police car?”
Well, didn’t I look like the super crazy neighbour? No, she hadn’t.
Of course, I’ve tried to capture the bird. Not capture, as in put it in a cage and keep it in captivity. No, I’ve run around the house with my phone reached up to the sky trying to capture the noise… without luck.
But let it be known, I’m the crazy lady who hears magpies that make noises like police cars… and I also run around with my phone to the sky. Never a dull moment here.
*Until he saw it for himself, and became part of camp crazy.
I believe you, thousands wouldn’t, but I do. We found a young magpie once who voluntarily stayed with us. It thought hubby was it’s “mum”. It would call out the word “mum” then answer it’s self and say “what” .Needless to say we had three kids at the time who were constantly calling out for mum. Wonder what my response was?
I totally believe you – magpies are really intelligent and are apparently the easiest birds to teach how to speak. That, and the fact that we have one that hangs out around our house that makes noises like a horse. Lol
haha I totally believe you, I have to considering I have a neighbour with dementia who moos like a cow roaming in the country side. Between you and me (and the rest of the world) I like it as I feel like I am living an idyllic rural life. xx
This is hysterical!! I would totally believe you. Our version of a magpie is a mockingbird and they make me crazy.
Love the photo!
xo
lynn
Aw thats cute! Birds are funny little things. I have a pet lorikeet who mimics the sound of a phone ringing! It sounds so realistic, sometimes I have to stop and realise its the bird. Lol!
My Uncle had a Budgie that he took to the vet because he thought it had a bad cold and cough. Turns out Budgie was mimicking my Uncle who is a heavy smoker. So yes I believe you have a magpie that can make noises like a siren.
Magpies are excellent mimics. 🙂 I believe you! I’ve heard a magpie barking like a dog, LOL!
How bizarre! I know Lyre birds imitate noises they hear around their environment. Maybe the Maggie is imitating a Lyre Bird imitating a Police Car? LOL, Fi xx
Realy bizzare, Iever knew that magpies could immitate noises!