Have you noticed large, black and white birds around Eden lately?
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During winter, you will be seeing a few more of them, as Pied Currawongs are moving into the suburbs.
Whether you love or loathe them, there are many shades of grey when it comes to this buddy.
“Almost everybody on the east coast will have seen a Pied Currawong, even if they mistook it for a magpie at the time,” Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife CEO, Susanna Bradshaw, said.
“Pied Currawongs won’t swoop you like a magpie will during its breeding season.
"You can tell a currawong from a magpie by its startling yellow eyes, whereas a magpie has brown eyes.”
Ms Bradshaw said the foundation would like to call upon residents to help the ‘underdog’ in the battle of big vs small birds.
"Big, aggressive birds, like currawongs, are currently winning the war, but there are simple ways to change this around and offer smaller birds, like fairy wrens and finches, a chance to fight back,” she said.
“If you want to discourage currawongs, the best thing to do is to remove their favourite exotic foods like asparagus fern, hawthorn, lantana, African olive and especially privet.
“This will also help prevent them from spreading these weeds.
"You can replace the weeds with native plants that protect smaller birds like hakeas, small grevilleas and native vines.
“In spring you may start to see brown currawongs hanging around.
"No, they’re not dirty; they are juvenile Pied Currawongs, fresh out of the nest.
“As they get older, these birds will grow into their characteristic black and white plumage," she said.