Black-billed Magpie

Black-billed Magpies were everywhere. They scolded us on the quiet side of Potter Marsh, and harassed a Merlin on the boardwalk side of Potter Marsh. They were poking around the dumpsters at the fast food restaurants, and squawking in the trees within Anchorage. They have obviously adapted to the urban areas of Anchorage, and its surrounding sprawl.

On our second day in Alaska we decided to drive up to Hatcher Pass. On the way up to the pass, within the Talkeetna Mountains, there was a small gravel pull-out on the side of the road. We pulled over onto the gravel in order to take some photos of the view. As soon as the car pulled off the road, right on cue, a Black-billed Magpie hopped out of the nearby underbrush and joined us on the gravel. I had this feeling that the bird associated easy food with cars and people, but I have no way of proving that. Instead of giving him food, I took his picture.