An enlightened magpie

This magpie called in the new day from the street light in front of our place. 

One writer says that the beautiful carolling of this familiar bird ... is one of the most nostalgically evocative of all Australian sounds. 

The scientific name for the Australian Magpie is Gymnorhina tibicen, the second word from the Latin for flute-player. 

Colonial settlers adopted the name magpie for this bird because it reminded them of the northern magpie. Which is a pity, because they are not closely related.

This adult and its partner nested in a Norfolk Island Pine across the road from us. They have raised three chicks this season. The chicks are now almost fully grown and are shown in today's extra, looking a little grumpy because our bird bath is almost dry.

Here is a link to a YouTube clip of an Australian Magpie calling - there is an advertisement at the start.