Magpie attempts to feed garden ornament

This particular bird story comes from my parents who share their garden with several finch species, blue wrens, and sometimes butcher birds and magpies.  My father feeds the magpies and can even bring them swooping in by whistling when he has found a caterpillar to dispose of.  Parent birds accept his offerings and feed their offspring on the front lawn.  Recently it was time for the current yougnsters to fend for themselves and the parent birds stopped feeding them and ignored the fluttering wings and open beaks.  One of the young birds accepted a snack but then stood holding it in his beak, head on the side, considering.  He hopped across the grass to a concrete statue of a duck and tried to feed it.  No response from said duck!  Magpie stepped back checked the duck's eye and beak with head on side again then stepped forward and once again pushed the offering at the concrete beak.  Amazing to see!