Regarding Magpie , there are many legends circulating among the people. People often regard magpie as a symbol of "auspiciousness", and their call is also regarded as a "gospel". The Chinese love for magpie can be said to be deeply engraved in the cultural genes.
If anyone has a magpies "come to visit" at home, it will be even more joyful! So, what are the beautiful meanings of magpies in Chinese culture?
- "messenger" who reports good news
Magpies and crows are two types of birds that are very familiar to the Chinese people, but the treatment of the two is very different, which mainly starts with their calls.
The crow's cry is low and hoarse, and is regarded as an ominous sign. Most people who hear it feel very unlucky; while the magpies' cry is loud and pleasant, as if there is a sound of good news. The common people have even weaved these catchphrases, which are interesting:
"Magpie chirping, good things come home"
"Magpie chirping, happy events come"
"Magpie chirping, guests come"
- The incarnation of love
Magpie is listed as one of the "Top Ten Love Birds", mainly because magpies often appear in pairs, and the body color of black and white is like wearing "couple suits".
plus in the household-known legend of " Cowherd and Weaver Girl " in our country, millions of magpies are willing to be road stones, and are given the noble character of adult beauty by people.
In addition, magpies are a kind of resident bird that settles in the same place all year round, rarely migrates, and pursues the "monogamy" system. Once the male and female birds are paired, they will live together and stay inseparable.
Magpies usually start to build nests around March every year, and start laying eggs after building nests. During the breeding of female birds, male birds are responsible for going out for food.
Careful people will find that magpies' nests are usually built on tall trees. From a distance, they look like a black ball stuck on a tree branch. When they walk up, they look rough and simple. How can such a nest withstand the attack of wind and snow? In fact, the magpies' nest looks simple on the outside, but in fact it can be regarded as a "luxury villa" among birds.
Magpie is a genius "architect"
Magpie is a very smart animal, and its nest is quite particular. Bird experts observed that it took more than 2 months from the beginning of raising branches to the initial nest building. In addition, the internal projects all ended, which took about 4 months.
Although the magpies' nests look crude and messy, they are actually genius "architecturalists". The nests can definitely stand the test of a certain amount of time, and they are even as solid as soup after the wind and snow!
However, magpies who are good at building nests are often occupied by birds that want to get something for nothing, such as cuckoos, kestrels, etc. Therefore, since ancient times, there has been a saying in China that "the magpies have a nest, and the magpies occupy it" and "the pilos do not make their own nests, but the magpies make their nests" .
Low let’s learn how the genius “architect” among birds, magpies, build their own nests:
- Step 1: Site selection
Before humans built houses, there were many ways behind the site selection, and the same is true for magpies to build nests. The selection of nest sites is an important part of their reproduction and growth.
In the long-term evolution process, the magpies' nest site has the characteristics of near water sources, distant natural enemies, and easy to feed. is usually built on tall trees, and there are usually trees with different heights next to it. This is mainly to get shelter and reduce human interference.
or even They will build a "fake nest" on another tree not far away, with only the frame of the nest, neither blocking the wind nor rain. It is said that this is used to confuse natural enemies.
- Step 2: Form the framework
After determining the site selection of the nest, the next step is to form the nest. The magpie nest is usually spherical, built by male and female, and the outside is made of dead branches.The frame of the
博少博 is like the foundation of a house. The placement of dead branches implies "technology". If any branch is placed in the wrong angle, it is likely that all the previous work will fail.
Magpies usually choose three branches with upward, more symmetrical angles and appropriate thickness on tall and straight trees, and then put the branches that are held up one by one.
Magpies seem to have irregularities in their branches, but in fact they are all tangent to the inner circle of the future, and each dead branch is biting together. It is difficult to remove one of them, leaving only a round mouth that can enter and exit above.
From the tree, the magpie's nest is like a "black ball" with thorns, firmly stuck in the middle of the tree branch, and no matter how strong the wind is, it cannot be blown away.
More importantly, when the clever magpies set up their nests, each branch has an end tilted downwards, so that the rain will not flow into the nest, but will flow down smoothly, making the nest dry and comfortable.
- Step 3: Internal "fine decoration"
framework is built, but it is only half completed. Internal "fine decoration" is the key task of building a nest.
Magpies will fill the inner wall with a thick layer of soil, and at the same time, it will also lay a soft lining, mainly grass leaves, cotton wool, animal hair, feathers, etc., which will be floundered in the nest one by one.
In this way, the inside of the magpie's nest is not only warm but also avoids the cold. Although the appearance is a bit rough, the inside is a real "luxury villa"!
Every spring, most magpies will add new branches to the old nest and repair it before using it. If it is severely damaged, some magpies will build new nests on the old nest. Sometimes 2-3 magpies overlap, and the most will reach 5. Over time, it is like a string of "candied haws".
The difficult situation of magpies
Magpies are a companion bird. The human settlement is close to the water source. There are generally farmland and trees near the water source. Farmland can provide food for magpies. Trees can provide suitable habitats for magpies
I believe everyone can feel that the number of magpies has dropped sharply in recent years. With the continuous advancement of urbanization, fewer and fewer tall tree species can provide nesting for magpies, resulting in no dead branches and no nesting positions to build nests.
Especially when it is the breeding and hatching period, the old nest is destroyed, and the magpies that have lost their "home" have no time to build a new nest for a while, and living is undoubtedly "adding insult to injury".
However, the fittest survive, magpies also learn to keep pace with the times. Some build nests on communication towers, and some build them on telephone poles... Nest building materials are also made of "modern building materials", such as wire, plastic bags, cloth strips, etc.
It is worth mentioning that magpies are alert to nature. When they find that their nest or eggs are exposed to by other organisms, they will build new nests in time and will not return to their nests.
Therefore, when you see magpies’ nest, don’t go to someone’s nest because you are too curious!
