what do magpies dream

 

In a flurry of beating wings, eight magpies alighted on the lawn.

There was a good deal of squawking and cackling.

I sat in my kitchen watching them.

One of them seemed to be quickly excluded and flew to a patch of grass a little distance away.

There were now seven.

I could see a particularly vociferous participant with a magpie feather in her beak.

Two others lined up with her facing the remaining four.

There came a cacophony of squawking.

The feather seemed to be the object of interest.

There were lunges and retreats.

The one with the feather brandished it.

Then she took to the air with the others in seeming pursuit.

I thought the whole thing most gracious.