I've been feeding the carnivorous birds.

[SteveSS]

It seems like all the tweety birds fly south but we still have the meat eaters. The Rockies are known for Magpies. When I lived out of state and would come skiing people would enjoy their lunch on the sunny decks of ski lodges. The Magpies adapted as you would hold up a French fry the birds would swoop in and grab it. Now that I live here I still see the Magpies hanging around our McDonalds, they must love fries. Since the snow has covered the ground for nearly a month, every time I feed the dog I toss out a bowl full of dog food for the birds. Mostly Magpies but crows, Stellar Jays and a few Grackles. Sometimes a poultry carcass. It's f-ing amazing how fast they find it and carry things off.

My neighbors put bird seed in their feeder but racoons and bears get it. So far I haven't seen any gifting behavior, where they will bring shiny objects as a thank you.

Don't forget to feed your winter birds!

 

[Sam69sat]

I have some magpies here that have learned to steal mice from my cats. When the cats aren't very hungry, they like to toss the mice around and play with them like toys. The magpies notice this and two or three will swoop in and surround the cat. One or two of the magpies distracts the cat and the other quickly grabs the mouse and flies away. It's pretty funny. Matter of fact it just happened again yesterday.

 

[SteveSS]

I mentioned this once but a Magpie was at the 7-11 gas station across from McDonalds emptying out a trash can looking for whatever. Selfish little bird. They'll hop out of the way of a car. Just enough to let the car by.