21.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Mr. Allen,
Thank you for the time you gave to talk
to me at the recent Steam Rally at Bretons.
If you remember, I told you of the strange
behaviour of magpies in Rise Park on two
successive years.
We have a "resident" pair of magpies who
nest in a coppice near Rise Park and who
appear regularly in the trees at the bottom
of our garden. On one day in mid February
1977 there were nine magpies flying about,
chattering and generally making a commotion
and settling occasionally in one Oak tree.
The next day we were back to "our" two.
Exactly the same thing happened on one day,
mid February 1978 but this time there were
more - 14. I intend to keep a good watch
this year but would like to know if the other
birds are "family" and why they congregate on
one day in the year and who calls the meeting?!
Yours sincerely,
GILLIAN WEEDON (Mrs)
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ESSEX NATURALIST FOR SALE
John Oxenham of 472 Upper Brentwood Road,
Gidea Park, Romford RM2 6JB, writes to say he
was most interested to read in the last
Bulletin about sales of old copies of the
"Essex Naturalist". After 27 years of
collecting he says he has a complete bound
set, including the early "Proceedings and
Transactions", Now, nearing 80 and with a
family not interested, he wonders whether any