Years ago we fostered a baby magpie and took it back to it’s parents once it was strong enough. I deliberately didn’t share our time with Wednesday the baby magpie on social media. Now I’m feeling ready to share her success story.

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service

A WIRES carer came and looked at her, saw she had s parasite in her mouth and needed medicine. The certified WIRES carer took her for a week to see the vet and give her medicine. Then the baby magpie came back to our yard to live in the hope that her family would find her.

Foster Caring For a Baby Magpie

Luckily my daughters were on school holidays, as this little baby needed regular feeding.

It spent most of it’s time walking around our front yard and in the cubby house. Being social birds, this baby magpie always wanted to be with us. There were times when setting boundaries to keep it wild were challenging.

Who can say no to so much cuteness and a baby that has lost it’s parents?

Wednesday loved hiding on my shoulder under my hair when I was out gardening. She would sometimes fall asleep perched there which was a huge honour to feel so trusted. On very rare occasions the baby magpie would be allowed in the house. Like when I forgot it was on my shoulder. But we tried to keep it outside all the time so it didn’t grow up thinking that it was welcome in everyone’s home.

Wednesday slept near my bedroom window at night, and would knock on the door with her beak to say hi. She had a different way of asking for food or water which we soon learned.

Often the baby magpie just wanted to come and have a chat.

As she grew and got more adventurous we kept an eye out for her parents. At our old home we were friends with a family of magpies that introduced their babies to us every season. Sadly, it became clear that the magpies that called our yard home weren’t her parents.

Rewilding a Baby Magpie

Once Wednesday the baby magpie started flapping her wings and it was time to find her parents. She needed flying lessons now if she was to survive in the wild. So with her on my shoulder we walked up the street to her nest tree, calling out for her parents. Her happy little bounce and chatter when we got there suggested she knew where she was.

This baby magpie was super smart. Wednesday knew she couldn’t fly back up to her nest. She set herself a goal and a plan to get there, starting by jumping on my head to get higher. Then she jumped from my head to the fence, and then surprised herself and I by flying to the roof. Wednesday then walked to the point of the roof, had a rest flew/glided into her tree. I was so proud of her…and terrified that another bird was going to come and hurt her, but I didn’t let her see that. Once in the tree she climbed, bounced and sang her way to her nest.

From her nest Wednesday called out for her Mum and Dad and eventually they came to her. I felt like they thanked me for looking after their baby and bringing her back home to the wild.

Learning From Each Other

Wednesday was only with us for a short time before she went back to living with her parents. But she made a huge impression on our lives. She taught the community that many of us care about nature, and that together we can make a difference.

There isn’t a moment when I see a magpie that I don’t think of our friend Wednesday. Yesterday I was having lunch near a mother and baby magpie and recognised the “feed me” call. I empathetically laughed at the Mum walking away. She was obviously trying to teach her baby to get it’s own worms, which it was capable of doing.

I’ve done the WIRES Rescue 101 training which I suggest everyone who lives around wildlife should do. Simply knowing when an animal needs human help or doesn’t can be the difference between saving it’s life or not.

The Beaches Farm Girl Shortcuts

For a shortcut home click here.

To see what is growing in my backyard farm click the link.

Want to read about parenting, click the link.

For restaurant reviews click the link.

Tips and tricks for sustainable living.

The Beaches Farm Girl reviews products independently and is supported by you, our audience. We may earn (but often don’t) an affiliate commission from products you purchase by the links on this page. Please remember to shop pre-loved, small and local when it’s an option. For books, visit your local library.