Juliette Wells and her partner, Reece Mortensen, are no strangers to the amazing wildlife that surrounds their Gold Coast home. Even they couldn’t have guessed how their family would change after rescuing an abandoned magpie—or why so many people from Wogawallan to Des Moines are concerned.
Wells and Mortensen were walking Peggy, their easygoing English Staffordshire bull terrier, around a dog park about a year ago when they came upon a baby Australian magpie alone on the ground, coated in burs, grass, and twigs. Magpie chicks can leave the nest as soon as three weeks old, but this one didn’t appear to be in good health. The couple decided to bring her home to heal after noticing the flock’s parents seemed to be ignoring her. Molly was given to her by her parents. That’s when the magic began to work.
Peggy the dog was initially afraid of Molly the magpie, according to Wells, because she’d been attacked by her before “Previously, magpies had swooped on her, but she had always piqued my interest.
” However, something in their relationship shifted after a few weeks.”
They’d lie close to each other, not touching. They began to cuddle up to each other after that. ” They became inextricably linked very quickly.
Peggy’s friendship with Molly only became stronger after that, according to Wells, and she even assisted in Molly’s survival. When the fledgling arrived, the pup was just a year old and had gone through a phantom pregnancy, as vets call it. “It is very remarkable. Peggy’s vets confirmed this and said it’s normal when an animal is caring for anything “According to Wells “To assist keep this fledgling bird alive, Peggy provided milk.” This, along with other delicacies typical of a wild bird’s diet, kept the rescued magpie alive. Later, Peggy’s veterinary team performed surgery to assist her in ceasing to lactate.
This commitment, according to Wells, is what helped the two unlikely friends form such a profound bond. “Molly thinks we’re her relatives, I believe. She has a lot of bird pals, but she likes to hang out with Peggy the most “says she. “They truly look out for one another and have each other’s best interests at heart.” Wells and Mortensen allow her to come and go as she pleases because she is a wild creature. Wells says she occasionally flies away for a day or two, but she always returns home to play fetch, sunbathe, and hang out in the yard with her best friend.
Magpies are incredible songbirds, and no two warbles are alike. They usually chirp and chatter. Wells heard what sounded like two dogs in the yard earlier this spring, and they’re known for being rather good mimics. Our avian companion has mastered the art of “barking” exactly like Peggy. “She’ll start barking whether she hears a knock at the door or a noise in the bush,” adds Wells. “She’s so good at it that we’re never sure which of them is barking!”
Peggy, now two years old, became a genuine mother just a few weeks ago after giving birth to a litter of puppies. Molly grew into a devoted aunt without hesitation, making sure she didn’t miss a single minute of fun and snuggle puddles before the little wigglies were whisked away to their new homes.
We’re blown away by how natural it is for this odd couple to like one another, and we’re enamored by how their friendship emits so much goodness. Peggy and Molly have gotten a lot of attention from all over the world, which is understandable given how much joy they bring to one other.
“The fact that they chose us makes me ecstatic about this relationship,” Wells says. “Every day, regardless of what occurs, I am grateful to see their relationship evolve and strengthen. Regardless of their differences, it’s genuine love and harmony.”