Magpie

The magpie is a bird of good omen and happiness.  It's call signifies  impending  good news or the arrival of a guest. If it builds its nest near a house, it is believed that the people living there will have good luck.  

A design with bamboo (symbolisess husband), plum (symbolise wife) and two magpies signifies marital bliss.  Such design is often used offer congratulations to the newlyweds.

The design with plums and magpies is also related to the phrase, xi shang mei shao (喜上眉梢）which is a term to describe happiness.  It literary means a state when one is happy and smile, happiness also transmits to the tip of the eye brown, ie mei shao (眉梢).  (not difficult to understand if you visualises the facial expression when one is happy).  The Chinese word for eye brow is mei which also sounds like that for plum.  The below design conveys the meaning xi shang mei shao.  But it also has a deeper meaning. The plum signifies the approaching of spring when everything flourishes and prospers.  The magpies herald the approaching spring and happiness ahead.

If the design depicted 30 magpies, it means happiness everyday of the month.

For more on magpie, please read : Xi Xiang Feng