Apparently not:
MBH: "I've just seen 13 magpies on the football field at once. That's weird isn't it?"
Mates: "No"
MBH: "How do you explain it then?"
Mates: "Simple. You're talking bullshit"
Like I said I'm not one for superstition, so wasn't too perturbed about the poem not fitting. Nor did I say "Good Morning Mr Magpie" 13 times.
Afterwards I told my mates about what I'd seen and they thought I was bullshitting.
That saluting thing is pretty mental isn't it. Never been one I've ascribed to, but only cause I think I heard it too late.
On a related matter, I forced myself to start walking over 3 drains a long time ago. Changed my life.