An enormous magpie has taken over Musswellbrook’s Simpson Park. But there’s no need to put an ice cream container on your head, because The Big Magpie is a very nice chap and has no intention of swooping you.
Local chainsaw artist Mark Ray carved the magnificent maggie from a huge block of wood. Pleasantly plump with a hint of a grin upon his beak, this perky passerine is perfectly placed for a photo op.
The Big Magpie was installed in 2022, as part of an initiative to bring more culture to the region.
“Muswellbrook Council approached me and asked about doing some sort of artwork in the shire to promote their past for tourism, and I was only too pleased to give it a go,” Mark told ABC Radio. “I’m just so pleased to have my artwork on public display.”
Magic Mark took up chainsaw art at the ripe old age of 50. His father Stan – also a renowned artist – needed help with a difficult project, Mark gave it a crack, and he turned out to be a natural.
“It was a hidden talent I really didn’t know I had,” Mark cawed. “I’ve always been able to draw, and if you can draw you can do this. It’s really not that difficult once you get into it.”
I think I’ll stick to finger-painting, Mark – less chance of ending up in the ICU. Anyway, Mark makes carving a bird look easy as mag-pie.
“I start at the top, get the head, the beak and the upper body all in the right perspective and then work my way down. However length of stump you’re left with at the bottom, so be it. So it’s all in perspective.”
From my perspective, you’ll done a fantastic job, mate!
One Flew Over the Magpie’s Nest
Bigella and myself were expecting a warm welcome when we swooped into Muswellbrook – but we had no idea how warm it would be!
With the mercury crawling past 40 degrees, the leafy streets were deserted, and our greeting party was reduced to a handful of curious faces peering through windows as we drove past.
And then, through a clutch of Canary Island Date Palms, we saw a familiar beak. The broiling heat may have sent the locals scurrying into the comforting embrace of air conditioning, but The Big Magpie was there to usher us into the bosom of this gorgeous little town.
Even in the madness of a midsummer afternoon, he’s fresh and inviting. Simpson Park is a delight, with plenty of trees to stretch out beneath as you take in the majesty of this wonderful wooden Big.
Best of all, you can grab a mag-pie from Banksy’s Bakery down the street if you’re hungry. But the only thing we had an appetite for was novelty roadside architecture.
Wearing custom-made protective eyewear just in case our new friend decided to get all territorial on us, we sidled up to The Big Magpie for photo. Between snaps, I took the opportunity to win him over with a joke.
“What’s black and white and black and white and black and white?” I whispered. The bird remained silent, awaiting the punchline. “A magpie falling down the stairs.”
Mark mustn’t have carved any earholes into his bird, because he didn’t even smirk.
“Well, let’s go to the Railway Hotel for a refreshing cranberry spritzer,” I told Bigella.
“Okie dokie,” she replied. “But we’d better leave the Magpie here. I don’t think he can hold his alcohol.”
“Because magpies are notoriously aggressive?” I asked.
“No,” shrugged Bigella, “because he doesn’t have any hands.”
One Good Tern Deserves a Plover
The Big Magpie might be black and white, but have you ‘red’ about the other flappy chappies spread across the wide, brown Land of the Bigs?
Mark has chainsawed another two winged wonders for the Upper Hunter – a king-sized kookaburra in Denman and a giant galah in Sandy Hollow.
The Crowtrap Crow is only 70km away, as the crow flies, in Pokolbin. You’d have to be cuckoo not to visit the Kookaburra in Kurri Kurri. New South Wales is also home to The Big Bowerbird, Stanley the Emu, and the stoic Cowra Eagle. For more chainsaw capers, go see Canoli the Cocky in Wagga.
Take a short flight up to the Sunshine State to admire local celebs Pelican Pete and Katey Seagull. Logan Reserve is home to The Big Honeyeater, whilst Apple Tree Creek is famous for The Big Parrot. Might be time to take a sticky-beak at them!
Chick-toria – oops, I mean Victoria! – has some handsome avians, including the ever-pleasant Bruno the Pheasant and the gallant Big Eagle. Then there’s The Big Kingfisher and a few Big Emus in Strathfieldsaye. They’ll flock your world!
Adelaide has a Big Pigeon strutting around Rundle Mall. Loxton has a dashing Pelican. Canberra – that most passionate of cities – has some Kissing Galahs. Even Dar-wing – oops, Darwin! – has Chinute Chinute the Big Owl.
And then there’s the big chickens! From The Big Chook in Moonbi to Charlie the Chicken, and Chickeletta to The Big Chook in Mount Vernon, these guys are all they’re clucked up to be!
Oh, and who could forget the phenomenal Big Penguin? He lives in (where else) Penguin, Tasmania! Head even further south for an encounter with the swarthy George Bruny.
Honestly, I could squawk about this all day!
