The surprising key to magpie intelligence: it's not genetic

[Onthefly]

1. Magpie at my hotel room

Many years ago, while working in Australia, I had befriended a magpie at my hotel balcony. I would feed the bird nuts. With the balcony door open, I talked to the bird and she
showed up daily at the same time waiting for nuts. In a couple of days, she took nuts from my hand. I called “her” Maggie. Could have been a “he” so I guess “Magnum P. I,” could have worked. She visited reliably for weeks.