This paper describes what happened in four teachers' classrooms as a result of participating in Operation Magpie, a Citizen Science project. The range of strategies used to engage their students in observing magpies in the schoolyard and in nearby parks is the focus of the teachers' stories. "Magic spots", data collection, class blogs, binocular use, creative writing and orienteering walks to monitor magpie family groups are all part of the story. (Contains 6 figures.)