Isn't the magpie nest afraid of rain and snow? Why?

Magpie is a symbol of good luck in China culture. Sometimes we call it "good news bird", and it is very popular with people!

One of the reasons why we like magpies so much is that they are very active all year round. They are a kind of resident birds. Unlike migratory birds, they don't adjust their habitats with the seasons.

Besides, it is an omnivore like us. More than 80% of its food sources are insects that harm crops, and 15% are cereals and plant seeds. Of course, it sometimes eats the eggs of chickens and other birds.

A wide range of food sources is one of the main reasons why they don't need to fly to warm places for winter.

However, they have a striking nest, which many people think is the secret of their winter. Actually, it's not. Their nests are really beyond imagination. It's definitely no problem to shelter from the wind and snow in winter.

However, they don't sleep in their nests every night like us.

The bird's nest is not used for sleeping.

Although most birds are masters of architecture, you will find that their nests basically have no "roof", and their nests face the sky and are exposed to the wind, rain and hot sun.

This kind of nest does not seem to be a qualified "house". How can a master architect build such an unreasonable house? In fact, the reason is very simple. The bird's nest is not used for sleeping.

Most birds try to build a nest just to breed, so that eggs and chickens have a place to take over. They chose the place of their nest just for the children, just like the place where we chose the school district. Comfort is secondary.

It is precisely because this nest is prepared for the birth of the young, so in the process of feeding, this nest is often covered with dust, feces and feathers on the young.

In this way, a bird's nest becomes very dirty, and it is easy to attract parasites, which birds do not want to see; In addition, most birds are not top predators, and if they often stay in a nest, they can easily become the targets of predators.

Therefore, the bird's nest is not for birds, but a temporary breeding ground for birds. When the chicks leave, they leave.

You may also be curious, where do they sleep instead of sleeping in the nest at night?

The answer is also simple: stay away from predators. Different birds will sleep in different places, sometimes in trees and sometimes on the grass, as long as they feel safe.

What's so special about the magpie nest?

Most birds have a wax-like substance on their feathers, which makes rainwater flow directly along the feathers (chicks often don't have this substance) instead of being absorbed, so it's not a big problem that their nests don't need a "roof". When it rains, just protect the chicks under the wings.

However, some birds are particular about their nests and will make their nests very comfortable. In addition, the roof and interior decoration are villa level, and chicks will never experience wind and rain, such as magpies.

Magpies like to nest at the top of the tree crown and are considered as senior guests of a tree.

The bird's nest is an upright oval, the largest of which can reach 80 cm high, which is very eye-catching. Most importantly, their "doorway" is not open upward, but a hole that can accommodate a magpie from the side.

It looks like a thatched cottage from the outside, but there is a hole inside.

The magpie nest is divided into three layers, the outermost layer is fixed with dead branches, with weeds and soil, the middle layer is built with thin strips of trees, covered with soil to shelter from the wind and rain, and the inner pad is made of hemp, fiber, mammalian hair, bird feathers and other materials, which is warm and comfortable.

One of their nests is really like the house we built, and it lasts for a long time, usually starting from11-65438+February (off-site) every year and continuing until March and April of the following year.

After that, they start to lay eggs, with 5-8 eggs per nest, but sometimes it can reach 1 1. The large number of young birds may be the reason why they have to build such a wind-proof and waterproof nest.

Although they set up a "villa", they will still leave the nest after the birds hatch, because their nest goal is too big and very unsafe.

In addition to predators, many birds that don't nest will also "occupy the nest", such as cuckoo and red-footed falcon. Sometimes it is taken away by other birds just after it is built, but more often, those abandoned nests are taken over by returning migratory birds, which benefits other birds. It is estimated that magpies have a good relationship among birds.

finally

If you are curious about the magpie nest and want to have a look, I suggest not to do so!

Many times, as long as you have observed their nests, they will not come back because they think it is risky. They will find new places to nest, which may make them miss the best breeding season.

If they have gone, you can observe their nests, they will be dirty and smelly, and you may accidentally meet poisonous insects and snakes.