Magpies, spring and frisky fish

In lovely Narrabri we are heading towards spring. We don't have much of a winter here and it doesn't seem to last long.

One of the hazards of living in eastern Australia is the common magpie- Gymnorhina tibicen. Normally a very placid bird, fairly tame and with a very melodious call, in spring-time they turn feral. Anyone who ventures into the nesting territory is likely to be swooped from behind. Often they will just make a threatening noise, but sometimes they will actually attack the head with their beaks. People often wave sticks or throw stones at them, but this makes them that more aggressive.

In the centre of Sydney last year, joggers and shoppers lived in fear of a magpie that decided George Street was the best location in Australia to raise a family.

So, from July 30th until about Christmas time, when i take my walk around our lake, I am very careful near the magpie's nesting ground. I've found that deviating from the path and staying close to the water avoids the dreaded maggie attack.

Of course, because I'm walking close to the water, I disturb the ducks who go flapping off in protest at my intrusion. And because I'm already anticipating the flap of attacking magpie wings, this just puts my heart in my mouth... it never fails to startle me!

A really odd thing happened yesterday, just past Maggie's attack zone. I was walking along and suddenly saw a splash in the water a metre or so away from where I was walking. I paused to look and a few seconds later it was repeated. A reasonably large fish jumped out of the water, flapped along the surface and then disappeared. I stood and watched some more but the performance wasn't repeated.

The water, the birds,the flapping fish- yes even the feral magpie- it's all God's wonderful creation.

Often I get too busy to go walking. But it really is my sanity break!

I need to get out of my busy-ness and pause to marvel at God's most wonderful creation.

Be blessed. Go for a walk and rejoice in the Lord your God.

Keith