The Familiar Magpie Lark Poem by Francis Duggan

Above the din of the traffic off of the highway in the park
I hear the familiar call notes of the familiar magpie lark
Pee wee pee wee they call in groups birds i often hear and see
Referred to by some as Mudlark and others know them as Pee wee.

One can say well known Aussies by their appearance and their song
You hear and only see them once and you cannot get them wrong
Black and white though smaller than a magpie on fork of branch of tree
They build a cup shaped nest of mud where they raise their family.

In Rural places and in Town parks they are a common sight
The magpie larks familiar in their magpie black and white
Their song it never varies pee wee is all they say
In rural paddock and in Town park pee wee all through the day.

Above the din of the traffic the Pee wees I can hear
Pee wee pee wee they often repeat so beautiful and clear
They have inspired the artists to sketch them and the Nature poets to rhyme
And they have lived in Australia for many centuries of time.