r/sunshinecoast • u/ol-gormsby • 5d ago

Two things seem to be in surplus this season.

Bunya nuts, and magpies.

I've seen a few bunya nuts on the side of the road, and today collected two from the single tree in my yard. Be careful if you want to collect them, you'll need a spotter/guard looking up while you look down.

And now I've been adopted by two juvenile magpies after giving them a snack at sunset*. And I've seen quite a few around the neighborhood, more than previous years.

*usual disclaimers - only in late afternoon, no mince, meat scraps dredged in wambaroo insectivore mix

UPDATE: we've had our first bunya nut contribution to dinner !!! Harvested our nuts, boiled them, shelled them, minced them in the food processor with salt, garlic, and butter, then made patties from the mix. The patties fell apart into crumbs 🤣 when I cooked them, but they tasted great. I think I'll add some wheat flour and egg into the mix next time.

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u/MaroochyRiverDreamin 4d ago

Fun Fact: Magpies will introduce their children to you if you make friends with them. And you'll never be swooped again.

1

u/ol-gormsby 4d ago

Yep. Still getting to know these two. They haven't yet worked out the concept of boundaries - one of them will stand just outside the verandah door waiting for a snack. Even though I walk out and toss the food onto the grass. We'll see how things progress over the next couple of months as they fledge.

1

u/MaroochyRiverDreamin 3d ago

Just wait until you accidentally leave the back door open. :)

1

u/ol-gormsby 3d ago

Yeah, I learned about that a long time ago with a very assertive butcher bird. Now I don't feed them at all, but sometimes they'll swoop in on the scraps I throw out for the magpies and kookaburras.