For over a decade, a wild magpie has visited my garden—uninvited, but never unwelcome. She arrived with cautious eyes and a curious tilt of the head, and over time, we built a quiet trust. I offered her dry cat food & sometimes mince, not knowing much about bird nutrition, just wanting to share something. She accepted it with grace, and then, she stayed.
Each spring, she returned with new chicks—fluffy, wide-eyed babies learning to hop and sing. I watched her teach them to forage, to fly, to fear the world just enough to survive it. She never let me too close, but she never flew too far. We were neighbours. We were friends.
And no matter where she is—high in the trees, across the rooftops, or hidden in the clouds—if I whistle, she comes. Wings outstretched, heart wide open. That sound is our signal, our thread. It’s how we say, I’m here. I see you.
These days, she’s not the only one waiting beneath the magpie dish. Floki, my fluffy little rescue chihuahua, has learned the rhythm too. He sits patiently below, nose to the breeze, hoping for a dropped crumb or a moment of shared wonder. Just like in the book, where Floki meets a magpie with wide eyes and open heart, this daily ritual reminds me that connection can bloom in the smallest gestures.
Now, I’m learning more. About calcium, about insectivore mix, about how to feed with care—not just love. Because kindness isn’t just what we feel; it’s what we learn, what we do, and how we grow. She’s raised many beautiful babies, and I want to keep supporting her in ways that honour her wildness.
This magpie isn’t mine. She’s her own creature, fierce and free. But she’s part of my story, and I’m part of hers. And that, to me, is rescue: not ownership, but connection. The same kind Floki teaches me every day—with every wag, every wait, every quiet act of love.
Magpies in the wild can live anywhere from 7 to 25 years. So, I hold onto the wish that we’ll have many more seasons together—more sky dances, more soft landings, and more beautiful babies learning to sing in the trees above Floki’s waiting ears.
Authors Note ; “This story is part of the real-life inspiration behind Floki’s adventures. All photos taken in our bushland backyard, where rescue and friendship bloom every day.”