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Rescued Magpie Becomes Lifelong Friend With The Family That Saved Her Life
After being rescued and nursed back to health by a young family in Newport, Australia, a magpie named Penguin has become a regular visitor and friend at the Bloom family’s home, playing with them and coming in to hide when it rains.
Penguin was discovered flying on the ground near a tree in 2013 by Noah, who is now 11. After being nursed back to health by husband and wife Cameron and Sam and their children (Reuben, 13, Noah, 11, Oli, 9), Penguin was allowed to fly free, but still returned often to spent time with the family. She plays catch, saunters through their home and even perches on their shoulders – all while Cameron Bloom takes beautiful pictures.
The bird waits for the family to leave their home before flying on her own way in the morning, and greets the kids when they get home from school; “It’s like a dog wagging its tail – she sits there in the tree and flaps her wings like she’s excited,” Noah’s father told ABC News.
More info: bloomphotography.com | Instagram (h/t: abc.net.au, dailymail)
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“Little baby magpie came into our lives when she fell from a tree at about 3 weeks old”
“We gradually nursed her back to health with a proper Magpie diet and lots of cuddles”
“She watches tv, jumps on the tramp with the kids, flies into our bed in the morning and cuddles up”
“I never thought she’d become as much a part of the family as she has. [The kids] love her like a dog, but better”
“She’s free to fly – she often will just hang out around us in the morning then when the kids go to school she’ll do her own thing”
“If you flap your arms like wings – she’ll flap her wings”
“She spends a fair bit of time cruising inside the house, picking up the kids’ scraps and playing games. She’s pretty domesticated”
“When the kids play handball here with their friends… Penguin just flies from kid to kid, sort of gets involved. It’s pretty fun. It’s chaotic”
“If other magpies are around she’ll make a beeline for the house and fly in here so she doesn’t get bombed and pecked – they really attack her”
“A few months ago there was another baby magpie, a local one. She started playing with it and it came into the house”
“Penguin and this one were just… talking and carrying on together. It was really cool”
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KeithColbert 10 years ago
We had one like that once. She even came with us when we moved to another town.
Rachel Montgomery 7 years ago
We have a rescued magpie called paddy who is exactly the same, she runs around the house playing and sleeping, she’s just part of the family 💗
LolaKristo 10 years ago
Lovely story & photos. It seems that we have also got a magpie pet. It comes to our balcony regularly and waits to be fed. It has recently started to walk into the house when it sees us inside. It also brings us gifts - it spits out clusters of seeds at our balcony door. Have you had this experience with 'gifts' from magpies?
RobertRuxandrescu 10 years ago
These kids will grow up being amazing people. In fact, they are already.
JoAnneKlein 10 years ago
No matter the angle one views this series, it is magnificent, heartwarming, adorable, charming, and completely captured love between species
ClarePomfrett 10 years ago
This is so beautiful,and what a privilege to be adopted by a wild bird. It is amazing the relationship between the bird and family.
JosephMcGoldrick 10 years ago
So sweet. The bond between animal and man has become more distant and stressed with time. This is special to my heart and gives me faith.
JoanParker 10 years ago
What a truly wonderful experience. God's creatures at their best. That Magpie knew a good family when it found them. Cherish every moment.
LillianaHoffman 10 years ago
Fantastic! It's like this with lots of wild animals that are raised by humans, they can't adapt to wildlife, but they are comfy with humans!
TinadeRonde 10 years ago
This is amazing! There's so much trust and love between the bird and the family, also very beautiful photos!
SilviaVago 10 years ago
Es lo más hermoso que he visto ultimamente! qué ternura ese pájaro con la familia que lo rescató, estoy maravillada. generosa naturaleza!
LionelleGrosdemanche-dien 10 years ago
Bonjour, cette histoire me surprend et m'émerveille. Elle est incroyable bien que je ne doute pas de sa véracité. Les animaux sont surprenan
SusanL.Miller 10 years ago
I love this! So glad that the family lets Penguin fly and be a bird, but also be a treasured part of their lives. The photos are gorgeous!
IreneManly 10 years ago
That's awsome. We had a baby Robbin and we took care of May years ago. We were able to take it outside and she/he came back.
KristoferPutnam 10 years ago
Exceptional story and pics of a very cool family of humans and bird...very uplifting, thank you.
PearlDacks 10 years ago
absolutely marvelous...such a loving family and the magpie seems to have bonded with all of the members...a delight to behold...thank you...
RosemaryTurpin 10 years ago
Wonderful pictures and a great story! That bird is sure relaxed around that family! I wish we folk could be that relaxed around each other
LaurenceJénoc 10 years ago
amazing level of friendliness, while respecting the bird freedom on top of that... great!
FiTetsworth 10 years ago
What a sweet lesson for the boys and a great life for Penguin. The photos are gorgeous, capturing your life perfectly.
TammyMetzgerLawrenz 10 years ago
loved the story, pics and video. the children are so gentle with the magpie. you can see the bond. I wonder... what about bird poop? :0
SusannCampbell 10 years ago
Compliment's to the Mother of raising her children to love nature and it's birds.
LizRice-Sosne 10 years ago
Your photos and story are so wonderful - thank you, I loved seeing this.
MargitLarsen 10 years ago
Fantastic good photos... .and the story is wonderful ! makes me even more dislike the human race for how "we" treat animals.
TerryVanhill 10 years ago
Careful with the kisses and letting he/she put beak in mouth. Mamal saliva is toxic to birds.
JasmeetKaur 10 years ago
superbly done.. the connection is so purely visible.. thanks for great work..
DesireeHomann 10 years ago
Beautiful story with beautiful pictures. Happy story for a change & we need more lovely stories like this one. Love Penguin.
MarieGardner 10 years ago
Absolutely beautiful & heartwarming. Love the photos. This family should write a children's book about this.
AmandaClayton 10 years ago
This reminds me of the magpie I rescued as a child. Very similar story - such fond memories
DonnaBoden 10 years ago
Always regarded magpies as villains 'til this - nurture over nature! Love the way Penguin speaks to Noah, beautiful bond & beautiful photos.
KathyMetts 10 years ago
I love this, every bit of it! The photos are wonderful, and you are all very nice looking, too, including Penguin! Thank you for sharing!
MiguelAriza 10 years ago
wao pictures are very talkative about the relationship betwen then a great example to the kids and bird itself, there still hope.
JoniRamsayHer-Weddings 10 years ago
Luv this! Great photography. So happy they made the right choice by hiring a professional.
VictoriaRobertson 10 years ago
We had a Jackdaw growing up who had been injured, he was so bright, great fun and it was an honor to have him in the family, stunning birds
KennethLodato 10 years ago
This story really made me happy, I hope she lives a long healthy life with her lovely family. :)
CommentaryFortytwo 10 years ago
LOVE this story and the photos are wonderful. What a great home for those kids, Mom and birds. (Great view, too). Australia is the best!
SarahDacquigan-Yukianki 10 years ago
I love this! It's so sweet that a family is giving an animal a good life. Wish everyone could do it
Clara-MarieBenoit 10 years ago
beautiful story with a happy ending <3 thank you for the smiles !!! Oh beautiful photos <3 indeed the photo have feeling of love <3
EliseWolf 9 years ago
It takes a lot of knowledgeable care to raise a baby bird so that it does not have nutritional deficiencies as an adult. This birds feathering does not look good at all. Handling birds is bad for their waterproofing and feather condition, and that is a life or death issue for a wild bird. Corvids are smart and live in family groups, so this is not surprising. Hopefully these folks got some advice and information about raising a wild bird. Please do not try to do this without a license in the US and training. So many "saved" birds are released just to live poor quality short sad lives. Sure its cute, but does this bird have healthy bird relationships? Has it bred yet? does it even know what to eat out there...don't do this
KeithColbert 10 years ago
We had one like that once. She even came with us when we moved to another town.
Rachel Montgomery 7 years ago
We have a rescued magpie called paddy who is exactly the same, she runs around the house playing and sleeping, she’s just part of the family 💗
LolaKristo 10 years ago
Lovely story & photos. It seems that we have also got a magpie pet. It comes to our balcony regularly and waits to be fed. It has recently started to walk into the house when it sees us inside. It also brings us gifts - it spits out clusters of seeds at our balcony door. Have you had this experience with 'gifts' from magpies?
RobertRuxandrescu 10 years ago
These kids will grow up being amazing people. In fact, they are already.
JoAnneKlein 10 years ago
No matter the angle one views this series, it is magnificent, heartwarming, adorable, charming, and completely captured love between species
ClarePomfrett 10 years ago
This is so beautiful,and what a privilege to be adopted by a wild bird. It is amazing the relationship between the bird and family.
JosephMcGoldrick 10 years ago
So sweet. The bond between animal and man has become more distant and stressed with time. This is special to my heart and gives me faith.
JoanParker 10 years ago
What a truly wonderful experience. God's creatures at their best. That Magpie knew a good family when it found them. Cherish every moment.
LillianaHoffman 10 years ago
Fantastic! It's like this with lots of wild animals that are raised by humans, they can't adapt to wildlife, but they are comfy with humans!
TinadeRonde 10 years ago
This is amazing! There's so much trust and love between the bird and the family, also very beautiful photos!
SilviaVago 10 years ago
Es lo más hermoso que he visto ultimamente! qué ternura ese pájaro con la familia que lo rescató, estoy maravillada. generosa naturaleza!
LionelleGrosdemanche-dien 10 years ago
Bonjour, cette histoire me surprend et m'émerveille. Elle est incroyable bien que je ne doute pas de sa véracité. Les animaux sont surprenan
SusanL.Miller 10 years ago
I love this! So glad that the family lets Penguin fly and be a bird, but also be a treasured part of their lives. The photos are gorgeous!
IreneManly 10 years ago
That's awsome. We had a baby Robbin and we took care of May years ago. We were able to take it outside and she/he came back.
KristoferPutnam 10 years ago
Exceptional story and pics of a very cool family of humans and bird...very uplifting, thank you.
PearlDacks 10 years ago
absolutely marvelous...such a loving family and the magpie seems to have bonded with all of the members...a delight to behold...thank you...
RosemaryTurpin 10 years ago
Wonderful pictures and a great story! That bird is sure relaxed around that family! I wish we folk could be that relaxed around each other
LaurenceJénoc 10 years ago
amazing level of friendliness, while respecting the bird freedom on top of that... great!
FiTetsworth 10 years ago
What a sweet lesson for the boys and a great life for Penguin. The photos are gorgeous, capturing your life perfectly.
TammyMetzgerLawrenz 10 years ago
loved the story, pics and video. the children are so gentle with the magpie. you can see the bond. I wonder... what about bird poop? :0
SusannCampbell 10 years ago
Compliment's to the Mother of raising her children to love nature and it's birds.
LizRice-Sosne 10 years ago
Your photos and story are so wonderful - thank you, I loved seeing this.
MargitLarsen 10 years ago
Fantastic good photos... .and the story is wonderful ! makes me even more dislike the human race for how "we" treat animals.
TerryVanhill 10 years ago
Careful with the kisses and letting he/she put beak in mouth. Mamal saliva is toxic to birds.
JasmeetKaur 10 years ago
superbly done.. the connection is so purely visible.. thanks for great work..
DesireeHomann 10 years ago
Beautiful story with beautiful pictures. Happy story for a change & we need more lovely stories like this one. Love Penguin.
MarieGardner 10 years ago
Absolutely beautiful & heartwarming. Love the photos. This family should write a children's book about this.
AmandaClayton 10 years ago
This reminds me of the magpie I rescued as a child. Very similar story - such fond memories
DonnaBoden 10 years ago
Always regarded magpies as villains 'til this - nurture over nature! Love the way Penguin speaks to Noah, beautiful bond & beautiful photos.
KathyMetts 10 years ago
I love this, every bit of it! The photos are wonderful, and you are all very nice looking, too, including Penguin! Thank you for sharing!
MiguelAriza 10 years ago
wao pictures are very talkative about the relationship betwen then a great example to the kids and bird itself, there still hope.
JoniRamsayHer-Weddings 10 years ago
Luv this! Great photography. So happy they made the right choice by hiring a professional.
VictoriaRobertson 10 years ago
We had a Jackdaw growing up who had been injured, he was so bright, great fun and it was an honor to have him in the family, stunning birds
KennethLodato 10 years ago
This story really made me happy, I hope she lives a long healthy life with her lovely family. :)
CommentaryFortytwo 10 years ago
LOVE this story and the photos are wonderful. What a great home for those kids, Mom and birds. (Great view, too). Australia is the best!
SarahDacquigan-Yukianki 10 years ago
I love this! It's so sweet that a family is giving an animal a good life. Wish everyone could do it
Clara-MarieBenoit 10 years ago
beautiful story with a happy ending <3 thank you for the smiles !!! Oh beautiful photos <3 indeed the photo have feeling of love <3
EliseWolf 9 years ago
It takes a lot of knowledgeable care to raise a baby bird so that it does not have nutritional deficiencies as an adult. This birds feathering does not look good at all. Handling birds is bad for their waterproofing and feather condition, and that is a life or death issue for a wild bird. Corvids are smart and live in family groups, so this is not surprising. Hopefully these folks got some advice and information about raising a wild bird. Please do not try to do this without a license in the US and training. So many "saved" birds are released just to live poor quality short sad lives. Sure its cute, but does this bird have healthy bird relationships? Has it bred yet? does it even know what to eat out there...don't do this
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