What happens if you see 2 magpies

Folklore would have us believe that magpies have always been bad guys, with the Victorians being so fearful of them that they hunted them to near extinction. Today is it widely believed that seeing a solitary magpie is unlucky and brings with it a curse, some believe it is warning of imminent death while others think it signals a rubbish day ahead, filled with doom and gloom.

The rhyme tells us that we need only fear a single magpie, and a collective group will bring with them some good fortune. It has been slightly adapted over the years as the original words were;. It seems that groups of 4 blackbirds were best avoided too in the 18 th century. If you have ever seen anyone salute a magpie, you might think it strange. This is just one of many rituals performed in the UK and some parts of Europe to ward off any bad luck sighting a lone magpie might bring.

The species was common and plentiful until the middle of the 19th century and popular with farmers because of its predation of insects and rodents. Numbers were severely reduced and only started to recover after the Second World War. They trebled between and and are now considered steady. In fact, some even contradict others. Simon Lester takes a look at the great grey shrike, a delicate-looking songbird whose innocent appearance belies its sadistic tendencies.

Gamekeeper Simon Lester offers his guide to these mesmerising creatures, from the pocket-sized Little Owl to the fearsome Eagle Owl. European Magpies pica pica perched on a rotten tree stump covered in moss Credit: Alamy.

Curious Questions. It observed and looked at me, and continued for a few more moments before flying off! Like with its beak? And they can be very territorial! I absolutely love the magpie but i am instantly filled with dread when i see just one.

Maybe i should offer it something shiny it might bring its wife? Woken by tapping on the mezzanine windows. Looked to see not one but two magpies, one on each sill.

Beautiful birds, their smart black-and-white jackets set off by a slate-blue sheen on their backs. Felt very fortunate that they stayed, hopping and tapping, for another minute before flying away.

I guess they were feeding on insects? Hi , In Ireland we spit and touch green if we see a lone magpie, to get rid of the bad luck.

What an amazing sight. June Farnborough , Hants. So I saw 3 magpies this morning but not at the same time, I would say 1 hour between them. Thank you x. I kept seeing 1 Magpie throughout my pregnancy and my mother in law died 2 days after I gave birth.

I also saw 3 when I was expecting a baby girl. The full rhyme was 1 for sorrow,2 for mirth,3 for a wedding,4 for a birth,5 for silver,6 for gold,7 for a secret never to be told,8 for heaven,9 for hell,10 for the devils own cell! Every time I have encountered a Maggie I have unfortunately learned of a death of a close relative. People should believe their eyes andnot listen to daft rumours!! I often have a mass of them when the young ones arrive — sometimes as many as 20!!

Reading into the history of Magpies and the church rather indicates that the church strove to destroy a belief from a previous religion and mendaciously created a story. Rather like Mary of Magda being a prostitute. Someone once left 13 dead magpies in a bag on the bonnet of my car. Does anyone know the significance of this. I would think with 13 being unlucky and 13 single magpies with a single denomination meaning bad luck, you had upset somebody with strong superstitions.

Find out who it was and hire a hitman to end them. My grandmother taught me a different version; One for sorrow Two for mirth Three for a letter Four for a birth Five for silver Six for gold Seven for a secret never to be told….

A lot of human beings are nasty idiots, this is just evidence of one more, mourn the poor innocent magpies and forget the idiot. I have been seeing a single magpie recently a lot and because of the superstition linked to it I always salute the one I see alone but then often I will see two or more interesting to read others views on it.

I met one magpie, two Robins and a orange black butterfly plus a white butterfly. All in one day. I love to see! Passed on from my mum, respect rather than superstition. I have a nest of magpies living in the trees in my garden. Some times there are 5 or more flying around. Had no problem with them so far. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bird watching. British birds of prey. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on reddit. Share on pinterest. Share on whatsapp. Share on email. Magpies And Superstition. Read next. Do Magpies Steal Shiny Things? Magpie ID guide Find out more. More bird superstitions Good luck or bad luck?

Christmas Gift Shop Presents, stocking fillers, decorations, and more. Shop now. A Bird Friendly Garden Create a haven for wild birds. Click here. Explore more. As Dead As A Dodo. Birds In Chinese Symbolism. Extinct Birds. The Starlings of New York. The Goldfinch In Art. Can Birds Smell?

What a crazy world we live in. This morning I found a dead magpie in the centre of my mums garden. My mum is 90!!!!! Hi there, So I saw 3 magpies this morning but not at the same time, I would say 1 hour between them.