“All of the local magpies are now joining us again for Coffee and Corvids at the park, along with a crow couple, and of course the gulls of summer. The only magpies who are not attending are Tawny and her husband. They prefer to watch our house, wait for us to come outside, and then come in search of grubs. Sometimes, Tawny will just sit with us, long after she’s full. Why won’t she come to the park? I figure there are two possible reasons, and her behavior may be compelled by both.

First off, her nest at the park failed. I’m certain she chose the site on the basis of proximity to us. Her almost-fledged babies, who she was very proud of (often bringing me their mutes as gifts), succumbed I believe to hypothermia. Why? This was Tawny’s first-ever nesting attempt, and she and her husband botched the construction. They got the complicated stick-woven orb correct, but then built their clay bowl above it, on a separate bit of platform they’d constructed. Not having the clay bowl in the nest, the babies were less protected from the elements. They died, and who wants to soon return to a place with such traumatic memories?

There is another reason, I believe, Tawny has avoided meeting us in the park: the appeal of our unique relationship. Though she’s certainly not ‘just another bird’ when she joins Coffee and Corvids, the experience of being differently, specially connected to us is hugely intensified at our house. Indeed, she knows our house well. She has spent many hours exploring inside, and the associations she has with this place and with ourselves are all good. We used to babysit her when her parents were out gathering food. Our house may very well be remembered in her mind as her childhood home, and we as providers and nurturers not unlike her parents.

This, to me, is an example of the kind of dynamics possible behind the practice of feeding birds (or any other animals, including humans, for that matter). The sharing of food is a key among us all for developing relationships. What do young potential lovers do when attempting to bond? Often, they go on dates to eat together. What is the basic standard of family unity? It is coming together to eat. In just about every social context I can think of, if you want to take the relationship to the next level, or to initiate it, or to strengthen it, or to reconfirm it, you give food, and be with one another to eat. If you want to really offend someone deeply, refuse to eat the food they offer, turn your nose up, tell them that you don’t eat such disgusting things.

It is my opinion, based on experience, that the same social rules apply in relationships between different species. Thus, if you want to bond with a dog, so that it will protect you, then literally feed that relationship. If you want spiritual gifts from the animals, deep insights into nature that may be used for healing, for physical defense, for whatever purpose, then nurture a relationship, offer food. Don’t offer cigarettes or pieces of colored cloth to those who have no need for such things, no interest in them. Give something they can use. Share food, and spend time with them

I have much more to say about this.”

— Ryan HeavyHead