Australian magpies are such charismatic birds. Being fearless, curious and at times, intimidating, they strut about suburban streets like they own the place. They are also one of the continent’s most ubiquitous and sociable animals. Magpies have had a long time to become accustomed to people. Making friends with magpies is normal. When animals choose to be around humans too, that is perfectly natural. It’s a two way relationship. It’s a myth that we domesticated dogs and cats. Animals are the ones who choose to spend time with us. Our pets domesticated us long ago! As Brian Hare says:
‘Friendliness … leads to new forms of cooperation just absolutely does gangbusters in the game of life.’ – Brian Hare.
Most likely companions
I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently, as I write my new book ‘How to Survive the Next 100 Years: Lessons from Nature‘. Our relationship among animals (and key to our own survival) is to foster two way respect and communication.
But If I had to pick one creature in the world most likely to be the next to form a domestic relationship with humans in future, it would be the Aussie magpie.
I would say it happens already. Even today, I had a male magpie sitting outside the open door of my office. It’s not uncommon for them to walk into the house. They roll around play fighting on the lawn. I’ve even had them sing along to me playing guitar.
Interspecies relationships are a key part of ecosystemsHow ecosystems function An ecosystem is a community of lifeforms that interact in such an optimal way that how ecosystems function best, is when all components (including humans and other animals) can persist and live alongside each other for the longest time possible. Ecosystems are fuelled by the energy created by plants (primary producers) that convert the Sun's heat energy More and especially important for urban living. Among other things, they are there to deal with the mess we make of ecosystems. Cooperation is a natural part of evolution. We are more dependent than ever on the relationship humans and animals have with each other, so it should be carefully encouraged.
Which is why, I am a little worried that a legal team would want to set up a precedent that may halt this kind of interaction altogether. I am not sure I agree wholeheartedly in their reasoning.
Molly the Magpie
It all started with Molly. Molly was ‘adopted’ by a family and lives with their dogs. Molly even barks. The family have become an internet sensation, which perhaps oversteps a mark … but this is the world we live in, where everything is put online. The Queensland Premier Steven Miles stepped in when Molly was confiscated by authorities. It’s illegal to rescue or keep animals in Australia without a licence. Generally speaking, we like to keep wild animals wild, which is a good thing.
The case was initially settled, permits obtained, Molly returned and everything was back to normal. Then a legal team stepped in to appeal the original decision.
Lawyer Jack Vaughan, quoted in Yahoo News says:
‘… it’s a precedent to hand out these things like lolly wrappers, and we’ll end up like America with tigers in the backyards of soapie actors, instead of what we’ve had in Australia, which is a pretty good legislation around the country to preserve and protect Australian wildlife.’
I would argue that we do NOT have good laws in Australia to preserve and protect wildlife. One of our big problems is our disconnection to nature. Wildlife is the main way we reconnect and over the years, it’s become harder and harder, especially for kids to develop an early understanding. It’s the kind of wisdom that they benefit from in future life. It creates mental resilienceReferring to an ecosystem’s ability to maintain a steady stable-state. The need to build resilience is entirely anthropocentric and symptomatic of ecosystems that are damaged or declining, leading to loss of ecosystem services on which humans depend. More and enables a sense of curiosity, humility and purpose.
Unintended Consequences
The fact is, humans and animals have always co-existed, shared food and befriended each other, as a matter of evolution. Australian Magpies are descended from lyrebirds, the world’s earliest songbirds. They exist from a time long before humans. Aboriginal people rightly believe the birds were there at the beginning of life.
It’s only in the last hundred years or so that we’ve grown apart from wildlife. We’ve since built this idea that wild animals and people have to separated ‘for the animals’ sake’. We take this for granted but have we really had that conversation? It appears to me to be a social construct of our own making.
The humble Aussie magpie is just trying to do what comes naturally. They seek our company because they can. In doing so, they teach us a lesson about our own humanity and our relationship to nature. They could just be the animal that saves us from ourselves. It may be best we take that into consideration before creating solutions to problems that may not be real.
While, in principle, I can see logic in the legal case, in practice it makes no sense. If we set rules too harshly, it could prohibit anyone from encouraging animals into their homes and gardens. Where does this stop? How does this really do anything to encourage people to care for wildlife? After all, hundreds of magpies are shot and killed each year in NSW and in Victoria simply because they are a nuisance. Where are the lawsuits about that?
The answer is, this case won’t do any good for the animals. Perhaps it would be better to let sleeping dogs (and magpies) lie.
