Sean+Magpie

__Introduction__
Did you know that the magpie loves to steal shiny things? The magpie is a type of crow and you can’t miss it with its metallic black body and white wings. People want these pests exterminated by destroying their eggs. They build their nest by stealing sticks, bits of wire and grass. The Air New Zealand Cup rugby competition has a team in it called the ‘Hawkes Bay Magpies.’ They have that name from the unwanted visitors nesting in their region.

__Features__
Magpies can grow up to 42cm and they have strong beaks, wings and feet. Magpies weigh about 200-250 grams (that is 7-9 ounces). Their wingspan is 52-60 centimeters long and they have calls that kind of sound like ‘cracker cracker’.

**This is a diagram that I made on Kid Pix showing a European magpie perching in a tree.**

__Food__
Magpies would eat just about anything if they could! Though they especially like grubs, insects and that sort of thing. They also like eating mice, small birds, lizards, eggs, grain, berries and fruit. **This is a picture of an Australian magpie eyeing up some flightless prey on the ground.**

__Habitat__
Magpies originated in Australia and parts of Europe and have been introduced to the USA, New Zealand and lots of other countries. They especially like the Hawkes Bay grasslands. Magpies also like to hang around trees and spaces of land. The magpie builds its nest high in the tree tops.



__Magpie Poem__
This is an old poem about how many magpies you see together and how much luck you get off it. 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!

__Conclusion__
Magpies can fly up to 1700 metres and they live in breeding pairs of about 590,000. Magpies are thriving and living well. There are plenty of them so don’t worry too much about them becoming extinct.

__Bibliography__
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie http://images.google.co.nz/ http://www.hbmagpies.co.nz/ http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/magpie.html http://australian-animals.net/magpie.htm http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/australian_magpie.htm