selective breeding

Riding along yesterday I saw many 'resting' magpies. When it's spring, I never mourn their loss, because they were probably swooping an innocent car or truck before death.

I realised that this was part of natural selection.

Dumb magpies that swoop 100km/h vehicles thereby eliminate their DNA from the gene pool. Thus the gene which suggests a Hyundai Getz is trying to steal eggs is less likely to find a home in the new generation.

On the other hand, dumb magpies that swoop pedestrians and cyclists rarely die. In fact, they probably think - to the extent thy do think - 'This is easy.' In addition to not being deprived of life, they also experience a boost in confidence. They are, then, more likely to breed successfully. Unfortunately, this fails to eliminate the gene which suggests men wearing lycra are dressed like this in order to conceal stolen eggs.

To conclude: I expect a few generations will be enough to ensure that every magpie in existence has, as its most obvious characteristic, a fanatical devotion to attacking pedestrian or cycling non-threats to their eggs and progeny. The only hope: that this natural selection will accidentally breed out concern for Kookaburras or other true threats to their nests.