On one visit to Ireland we noticed large black and white birds that seemed to be everywhere. A local friend was driving us around to site see and Tom asked about the bird. “Oh, those magpies!” the friend replied, and he counted them whenever they flew by. He explained that there is a poem explaining that seeing one lone bird was bad luck. Of course, after that we started counting them, and wouldn’t you know it. Half the time we saw a lone bird. But no worries, as soon as we saw another one we added it to the total, never admitting we saw one by itself. 😉
We didn’t take any photographs of them so I borrowed the one above. (Wouldn’t want to pretend that we are that good at photography!) Here is the poem (there are a couple of versions):
One for sorrow, two for joy;
Three for a girl, four for a boy;
Five for silver, six for gold;
Seven for a secret, never to be told;
Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss;
Ten for a bird that’s best to miss.
Have you seen this bird? The little rhyme reminds me of other things people do to avoid bad luck. Like not stepping on a crack lest you break your father’s back, knock on wood, or never speaking ill of the dead. What are some more you can think of?
I have a flock of Magpies that visit our apartment complex around the break of dawn- when I have kitchen scraps to throw out, I throw them in a field just at the edge of our parking lot- the birds love that ( of course I only do this after dark)
I see that they live in the western US so that’s why I’m not familiar with them.
I have never seen one would love to go to Ireland one day have a very merry Christmas
Same to you, Lisa. I hope you go one day soon!
Interesting article about magpies. I like the poem
Thanks, Joy. I thought the poem was interesting too!
I have never seen this bird in my many travels. But I really like the poem.
The birds really are quite striking.
I have never seen a Magpie before And I would Love to visit Ireland someday! Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Thank you for sharing your post with us!
Thanks for your comment, Sarah. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I live on the east coast ,so I am not familiar with Magpies.
Marilyn
Apparently they are common in some areas of the US, but not here either.
Interesting post. I have never seen magpies where I am on the west coast.
I’ve read that they are in Texas. Maybe some other places as well, but the US birds are bit different that the European species..