Life and Death

I saw something this morning that has left me with quite a sad feeling. There was nothing that could have been done to prevent it, but it was sad never the less. You could say I witnessed a murder.

I was in work, minding my own business when I heard a great deal of commotion coming from outside. Outside outside, not outside of the office. Lots of birds were squawking, squeaking and squealing. I looked out of the window and saw three magpies on the rooftop opposite. The one in the middle had something in one of its claws, and the other two were taking it in turns to swoop in and dive at the middle magpie. A raven was on the edge of another building’s roof, and this was making the loudest noise of all.

I glanced back at the magpies, and could make out that it was another bird that the magpie had a hold of. Another raven. The magpie was swinging this poor bird around, and slamming it down onto the rooftop relentlessly. It then moved it into the guttering, and must have been pecking at it for at least five minutes. It then lifted the lifeless body of the raven from the guttering and left it on the roof. The magpie flew away, quickly followed by the other two.

The raven that was on the other roof had grown quiet. It flew over to the body, and stood over it. It nudged at it with its beak, but the bird’s life had gone. It continued, as though it was trying to wake up the bird for several seconds, before it walked up to the very top of the roof. It looked back, and then looked away before flying off and into the distance.

Several minutes later, the magpie returned, and hopped around it’s kill. There was another magpie that had flown in with it, but this one stood on the railings that went all around the edge of the roof. I got the impression that that the magpie was showing off. Then, these two magpies flew away too. I haven’t seen any other birds around the area since then.

Some birds kill other birds for food. For survival. It is simply how nature works, and is a fact of life in the natural world. This magpie seemed to kill the raven for the kill, not for food, and that is why I felt the sadness. The senseless taking of another life. The sorrow that the other raven showed. The lack of remorse that the magpie showed when it returned.

It also got me thinking about how fine the line between life and death actually is.

How important it is to enjoy the life that we have now. I mean what is the point of not enjoying it? We could be gone in a single second.

Sorry. Deep post today. Sometimes messages have to come through to us so clearly we have to take note. Or not…

Jun 14, 2011

Background, Nature, The World, Time

6 responses to “Life and Death”

Trevor

Jun 14, 2011

The nasty side of nature reared it’s ugly head for you today, from experience I know how you feel. It’s always a wakening moment to see things like this even though this is nature at work.

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Jun 15, 2011
  
  I’ve never seen anything like that before but it is only nature… still unsettling…
  
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penpusherpen

Jun 15, 2011

Sir Aquatom?… I read this on my mobile last night,/early morning, and felt so sad. Nature takes no prisoners, and some birds seem hell bent on warfare. Yesterday I listened to a report saying Blackbirds were acting viciously, (I think worms are already aware of this fact ) but seems that the Spring dry weather has caused a lack of worms, therefore mother Blackbirds are attacking other small fledglings t feed their young. Hard to bear, but it’s only the strong and well-fed who survive. BUT saying this, the scenario you describe doesn’t explain the violence perpetrated, unusual I would have thought, but saying that, we have some Magpies nesting every year in our neighbours high Spruce trees, and they are so territorial, and don’t think twice to scare anything away. Told me off once or twice as when they’re angry they make themselves heard an’ no mistake!! Sad blog, and makes me feel uncomfortable , but then violence and death unsettle everyone. Hope you’ve recovered from viewing the scene, xPenx

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Jun 15, 2011
  
  Thanks, Pen, sorry that I made you feel uncomfortable. I look at magpies slightly differently now…
  
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summer breeze

Jun 21, 2011

Just returning a visit and reading this sad story, I too have witnessed this nasty side of nature, magpies can be so viscious. last year I was sitting at my pc that is near a window and could see this magpie chasing a starling in flight around, the poor starling didnt know where to go, it eventualy got to a branch in my cherry tree. the next thing I knew the magpie had got it in its claws and took it to the ground and started pecking at it, I ran out into the garden and chased the magpie off, the starling was still alive so I brought it in put it in a box but it died over night, the damage and shock was too much.
It is very sad to see this side of nature and I never knew till last year how viscious magpies where, and the worst thing of all was there was plenty of food in the garden… so maybe magpies are just cruel..

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Jun 21, 2011
  
  Hello Summer, thank you for commenting! 🙂
  I like to think that everything happens for a reason, but sometimes, when you see things like this especially, you think ‘why?’ All part of the cycle of life though… where the raven (and starling) came to the end of their lives, the magpie lived for another day.
  It is cruel though…
  
  Anyway, I’m off to have a longer look around your posts now! 😀
  
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