Hi Peter, Hi All,
My friend Colin, also feeds Magpies and Butcher Birds. Some months ago the hen bird, Maggie was carrying a bad foot. Swollen badly at the join of the long toes. Skitz, the male bird and Maggie would feed together but Maggie needed preferential treatment.
One day it happened. I was there to witness it. Skitz had caught a huge moth. Killed it and offered it to his mate Maggie. She devoured it as she was not so capable to catch live food. Often when the Butcher Birds were overwhelming, Skitz would also give Maggie his aquired food bits.
Maggie still favours that leg but its not as bad as it used to be.
I saw a documentary once where they mentioned only man showed compassion. Now here's an example of a Magpie doing it.
Cheers Marty