Man gets over magpie phobia and now his best mate is one

MARK FOX had been petrified of magpies since he was swooped by the birds on his way to school but he tells how a rescued baby magpie called Thunder overturned his fear and became his mate.

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MARK FOX has always been petrified of magpies. Even when his wife brought them home as a WIRES volunteer, to care for the sick and injured.

There were times when he’d have to feed them when she was at work.

He was too afraid, so would use the longest pair of barbecue tongs to drop food into the babies’ mouths.

“When I was a young boy going to school, I used to get swooped by magpies all the time,” he said.

“They scared the crap out of me.

“One day I couldn’t find the 50cm long tongs, and they were crying. I hesitantly used my hands. I was petrified.”

After doing it a few times, he said he was fine.

Mark and Juliette Fox love having Thunder around. Picture: Tim Clapin

These days, he wanders the south west with Thunder on his shoulder, feeding the baby magpie mealworms and spraying water into its mouth as jaws drop around him. She goes everywhere with him.

She often visits Chemist Warehouse and Petbarn, both in Casula.

Thunder’s story starts at Petbarn, where she was found seeking shelter after myna birds and other magpies were attacking her. She was about four weeks old.

Mr Fox’s wife Juliette works at the store and was quick to rescue her.

Thunder gets a feed between visits to local shops. Picture: Tim Clapin

The couple who live in Harrington Park, took her to the vet.

The prognosis wasn’t the best, but they decided to care for her like all the other magpies they’ve helped recuperate.

While all the others have been released into the wild, they aren’t too sure about Thunder, because she’s unlikely to fly.

“Fingers crossed she will be released. We’ve got a great aviary for her and a magpie lands on the roof teaching her to sing and talk back,” Mr Fox said.

Mr Fox said Thunder was more horse than bird, eating like there’s no tomorrow.

“She’s a bit like me ... she likes her food,” he said.

“We feed her mince, an insect powder mixed with water, but her favourite is mellee worms and flies.

“She hates the postman, big trucks, buses, some humans — anything really loud. That’s why we get her outside so she can adapt. She needs to experience the world.”