When you see a Magpie, what do you do?

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Going by the reactions of my friends, choices seem to be broadly split as follows:

A. Stop whatever you are doing/saying IMMEDIATELY to utter some weirdy salutation stating with the words 'Good Morning Mr Magpie', even though it's 4.30 in the afternoon. After which your friends are permitted to resume the conversation again.

B. Deftly perform some sort of ritual involving 3 salutes and a tug on your collar without breaking conversation and still managing to keep one hand in the steering wheel/pouring hot water into a mug etc.

C. Absolutely nothing, because it's just a sodding bird and why would you?

I'm C - I think I'm the only one who is and that the world has truly gone mad

I see one or a few most days!

I smile and say Good morning/afternoon and enquire after his wife and children!

They never reply because my dog usually runs full pelt at them!

I salute.

I say " good morning Mr Magpie and how are your wife and children"
Silently of course cos I wouldn't want anyone thinking I'm superstitious.
Which I'm not, least woo personyou could meet.
It's just magpies......

In my head I say "Good morning Mr.Magpie, how's your family?" whilst saluting but in a way that nobody knows what I'm doing -so I may look like I'm brushing my hair back off my face .

I didn't know there were cultural traditions around magpies in the UK. In Australia you just don't take your eyes off the bird or it might swoop at your head.

I say “Good morning Mr Magpie” three times regardless of the time of day, and my DH crosses himself. Both what our parents did

If I see only one I usually turn away and look again and act like I have seen a second one. As in 'one for sorrow, two for joy'..... weird how these old sayings stay with you..

Morning Mr Magpie, how's the wife and kids?

I salute, and say “hello, Mr Magpie, how are your wife and family?”.

Quickly look for a second one. Failing that then 'Good morning Mr Magpie, how's your wife today'.

Salute and say " Morning, Captain, how's the family today? " I say it out loud so the magpie knows in talking to it

I salute, say Morning Mr Magpie, look around for how many more I can count. Then end up singing the theme tune to 'Magpie' kids tv programme for the rest of the day.

C.

Sometimes I'll see 2 and think 'for joy' according to the rhyme, etc. but I wouldn't go any further than that!

I've just been in the garden and one flew in and landed on the shed roof.
Me:" Ay up, mate. How did you know I've just filled the table?"
Him/Her: flew onto table and tucked in
My Cats: "Get off my land"

A.
Good morning Mr Magpie, how's the wife and kids.

Tug forelock (fringe in my case), then touch collar and say good morning or afternoon.
Then I have a quick count and think 'that's about right'. (One for sorrow, etc.)
A long-standing friend set me off, it's been thirty years!
I also did the 'one for sorrow' thing for stones from the delicious prunes we were presented with for dessert at primary school. (vom face)

C. I was never taught or heard of any of these weird rituals regarding magpies as a child so it wouldn't occur to me to do anything.

I just say ‘Morning, Magpie!’, whatever time of day or night it is. I don’t know why or where I learned it from. I’m in my 50s, and not generally superstitious.

A. Salute and say morning Mr Magpie, l also get someone to see the bird as well other wise I will have bad luck. One for Sorrow and all that.

Immediately look for the other

I say good morning and then I try really hard to spot another one 'one for sorrow, two for joy'

I don't say anything but do salute it
Even if it does get me some funny looks sometimes if I'm out and randomly try and discreetly salute it lol

B
I also bless myself when I pass an ambulance or funeral hearse.

C.

While rolling my eyes at friend who does D: frantically scour the horizon for the next 20 mins for a second one , followed by endless fretting if there is no #2.

In the middle of Lockdown I was in the park on my once a day exercise and met a former colleague, last seen about 7 years ago - we're both semi-retired nurses.

We were catching up on what's happened to whom and when, all very interesting when she suddenly on seeing a magpie shot over to it and started clapping her hands and saying a rhyming ditty about the need for another magpie to appear or we'd be doomed! It totally threw me, as we were deep in serious conversation, and I know nothing about magpies and their powers.

All very strange.