The Magpie's Nest

Once upon a time — a very long time ago — birds all made nests that looked just the same. This really wasn't very effective, because different birds had different housing needs. Big birds needed sturdier nests that wouldn't collapse under their weight. Delicate birds needed softer nests that would soothe their bodies. Birds living in regions without twigs, such as desert dwellers, needed a type of nest that could be made without sticks and branches. Birds living in the rain forest needed nests that would withstand the heavy rain that came during the rainy season.

The birds were all very unhappy about this state of affairs.

“I don't know,” squawked the robin. “It's not very good for all of us, if we're not able to learn how to build better nests.”

“I agree,” chirped a chickadee, “but what are we to do about it?”

The birds chirped and chattered for some time, trying to come up with a solution to their nest-building dilemma.

Finally, a wise old blue jay spoke, “I have heard of a bird that is wise in the ways of building nests. It is the magpie. Perhaps we could convince this knowledgeable feathered friend to teach us to build better nests.”

So the call was put out to the magpie. First one bird told another, and then another, and then yet another, until the news had been broadcast to the entire bird kingdom. So it came to be that the magpie heard she was needed.

The magpie was not surprised to find she was being called to help teach the other birds. After all, she thought, “I am known throughout the bird world to be the cleverest of all at building sturdy nests. These birds could most certainly learn a thing or two from me.”

She called a conference of all of the birds, and soon, one after another, birds of every shape and description flew down into the field that had been designated by the magpie as the meeting place. There were small birds and large, colorful and drab. All were excited to learn how to build a better nest.

The magpie called the birds to gather around her, and then she began to teach them the art of nest building.

The first bird to ask for instruction was a thrush. This thrush wasn't much to look at, with his plain plumage, but he had an extremely beautiful song, which he sang to the magpie.

“Oh, please, dear Magpie,” he sang, “teach me how to build a beautiful nest!”

“But, of course, little Thrush,” answered the magpie.

The magpie began by taking some mud. Deftly using her little clawed feet, she made a sort of round cake with it.

“That,” said the magpie, “is all there is to building a sturdy thrush nest with materials that are readily available to you!”

“Oh, that's how it's done. Thank you so much,” said the thrush and away he flew. And to this day, that is how thrushes build their nests.

Next, a blackbird spoke up from the back of the bird conference. “Oh, hello there, dear Magpie. I really haven't had success with building a nest for my family. Can you be of some assistance?”

“Absolutely,” answered the magpie.

And, with that, the clever magpie took a variety of twigs and arranged them with a bit of mud, which served to sort of glue them together.

“There you have it, dear Blackbird,” said the magpie. “Now, you can build a home for your family.”

“Now I know all about it and my family will be very pleased, too. Thank you,” said the blackbird, and off he flew. And that is how the blackbirds make their nests to this very day.

Next the hoot of an owl was heard. Now, owls are usually only heard from at night, but this poor creature was so desperate to make a good nest that he'd ventured out during the day.

“Hoot, dear Magpie,” said the owl. “I would be so grateful if you could teach me the trick of building a good owl's nest.”

“But of course, Owl,” said magpie.

Then the magpie began to show the owl, taking the nest of the blackbird and putting yet another layer of mud over the twigs.

“There you have it, Owl. That's all there is to it,” said the magpie cheerfully.

“Oh, I should have thought of that,” said the wise, old owl, a bit annoyed with himself since he was, after all, reputed to be so wise. “Thank you for your kindness,” and away the owl flew. And owls have never made better nests since that day.

Next to chirp out from the bird crowd was a rather common-looking sparrow.

“Hello, Magpie,” he said a bit shyly. “Do you suppose you might have the time to help me learn to build a good sparrow nest?”

“Absolutely,” said the magpie. “You don't need to be shy!”

And the magpie began to show the sparrow, taking the owl's nest and adding some additional twigs, which he twisted around the outside.

“There you have it, shy creature,” said the magpie. “Here is an ideal sparrow's nest.”

“Perfect! Thank you so much, Magpie,” said the sparrow, and off he went. This was, in fact, a rather messy nest and sparrows make rather sloppy nests to this day.

Next to ask for help was a starling, a dark-colored bird with a short tail and a sharp beak.

“I've never been able to build a nest that held up to the elements,” he complained. “Could you teach me to build a better nest.”

“I know all about starlings' nests,” said the magpie, puffing her chest out proudly, for she really was quite clever about nest building.

The magpie began showing the starling by taking some feathers and animal fur and lining the nest very thoroughly with these soft materials.

“There you have it, dear Starling,” said the magpie. “Sturdy and comfortable!”

“That's great. My family will love it. Thank you,” cried the starling, and off he flew; and to this day starlings have very comfortable, plush — and sturdy — nests.

So, on and on the lessons went for most of the day. Every bird, after his lesson with the magpie, took away some knowledge about how to build nests, but none of them stayed to the end of the conference to hear all of the nest-building information.

Meanwhile, the seemingly tireless magpie went on working and working and teaching and teaching without looking up until the only bird that remained was the turtledove, a bird known for his unique cooing. It was no surprise, then, that this particular turtledove had not paid any attention to the day's lessons.

Instead, while the magpie worked and taught, the turtledove just kept on crying, “Take two, Tally, take two-o-o-o.”

The magpie had been too absorbed in work to pay any attention to the cooing, but at last she heard this cry just as she was putting one twig across a nest.

“No,” said the magpie,” “One twig is enough, Turtledove.”

But the turtledove wasn't really listening to the magpie. He kept saying, “Take two, Tally, take two-o-o-o.”

Finally, the magpie got angry and said, “I told you. One twig is enough!”

Still the turtledove persisted and cried: “Take two, Tally, take two-o-o-o.” The turtledove really meant nothing by his cry. It was just the song he often sang, but the magpie thought the turtledove was trying to tell her how to build nests. And the magpie didn't like this, because after all, she was the nest-building expert, not the turtledove.

“Take two, Tally, take two-o-o-o. Take two, Tally, take two-o-o-o.” The turtledove continued with his song.

At last, the frustrated magpie looked up and saw nobody near her but the silly turtledove. Angered that the turtledove was being bossy, the magpie flew away and refused to tell the birds how to build nests ever again.

So, the lessons learned that day still dictate how birds build their nests today. And that is why different birds build their nests differently.