Back in March 2003, I posted the rhyme that we used to say about 50 years ago in east coast Oz. We used to count crows or ravens and not magpies. When I worked in a public library, a book was added to the collection and it was about counting magpies. It was a beautiful picture book for small children.

As far as I remember, that was the first time I knew that the rhyme was also used for magpies.

Also, I'm guessing that the rock band named Counting Crows took the name from these rhymes.