Here’s the story of a magpie named Penguin, as narrated by the loving Sydney family she shares a home with.
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“A little baby magpie came into our lives when she fell from a tree at about 3 weeks old.”
The magpie is named “Penguin” because of her color’s resemblance to the aquatic animal.
“We gradually nursed her back to health with a proper magpie diet and lots of cuddles.”
Parents Cameron and Sam — along with their kids Rueben, Noah, and Oli — have been taking care of Penguin since they found her in their yard two years ago.
“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.”
Magpies are hard to release back into the wilderness because other birds can be extremely territorial. Penguin is lucky to have found a home with the Blooms.
“She spends a fair bit of time cruising inside the house, picking up the kids’ scraps, and playing games. She’s pretty domesticated.”
“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.” 
“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.”
The Blooms know that Penguin will have to leave someday to have a family of her own. Until then, they will happily keep her.
