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How to Look Good, Feel Good. The Art of Ageing and Living The Good Life
16 Ways to Glam up and Dress like a Rock Chick
Walking home from school, I would put my school bag on top of my head to protect myself. Years later I now have a magpie that has taken up residence in the house yard of my farmlet in Victoria Australia. He threatens me every time I go outside alone, all year round for the past three years, if anyone else is present he doesn’t show himself. Prior to that I would walk carefree amongst them with no fear. Its just this one young bird.
Oh that’s awful Diane. Talk about victimised. I’d hate it. I avoid where they are nesting in season. Can you do anything – call a ranger in?
I had one rise up from the ground in front of me yesterday Linear Park Windsor Gardens Adelaide. I was cycling at a fast 30kmph home from work and the Magpie was standing in the middle of the trail as I went down a small dip, I high sided over the handlebars hitting the bitmen hard while trying to fend it off. I tried to roll but landed on my face ( Luckily a CT scan was clear) and got deep grazes on my knees, elbows and shoulders. Also there was blood all down my shirt where the beak got me in the lower chin. Thankfully a couple of cyclists and pedestrians stopped for me and saw the carnage and see it I was ok so Thankyou to them!!! Fortunately I didn’t think I broke anything and managed to re straighten my handle bars and seat and the bike still worked ok as I had a further 8km to get home. I looked like a gunshot victim with blood everywhere but rode home on pure adrenaline. Got the all clear from the Hospital in the evening and I consider myself real lucky. I did go to work today “in the car”. So i’ll give up cycling for a bit and heal up before I get back on the saddle. To be honest I cant remember if the bird was aggressive or just dumb as to fly up in my face. So moral of the story is just take care I guess and i’ll live to cycle another day.
Yikes. That doesn’t sound good. Take care when you’re back in the saddle again during magpie swooping season.
I’ve been freaked out about magpies ever since they dive bombed me when I was walking home from primary school and took a chunk out of my ear 🙁
Wow that sounds awful Janet 🙁 They are not to be dallied with.
Those tips would be good to use for crows as well.
Hey Nat, wondering which part of the world you have over boisterous crows?
I have always thought of Australia as having a lot of animals that can kill/weriously injure a person, but I must say, I never thought to worry about the magpies. (This is confirmed in Bill Bryson’s book about Australia—that there are dangerous animals in Australia just laying in wait for the unsuspecting tourist). Now, I can officially add magpies to my “list of things to worry about when I visit Australia”. 😉
Only in season, Suzanne! And not on every corner! But forearmed is forewarned for the three weeks or so that they are bullish.
No magpies around here, but now I know what to do if I ever run into ones that are nesting. In answer to your question, I do remember smaller birds dive-bombing on my college campus, San Francisco State University. I think there are many birds that do this.
I think you’re right Carole … more and more stories of swooping birds seem to be coming to light.
I’ve seen a person attacked by a large bird before and it’s scary. I would definitely wear a hat around these magpies. Love the photo of you wit the birds at the top!
Thanks Michelle! I enjoy being around lorikeets – not scary at all 😉
Great post! Thanks for the warning:-)
Thanks Irene – seems as if breeding season has come under scrutiny, and readers are a bit more aware now 😉
I’d never heard of magpies actually attacking people and thought your title was tongue-in-cheek before I read your post and saw that there are actually signs warning of magpies swooping! I guess I might opt for the helmet and zip ties (maybe fake dreadlocks would add some style to the ensemble?) and hide behind my sunglasses before venturing outside for a walk…
Haha Anita, yes any sensible person might think I was joking! But no, they really go for you if they’re in the mood. Yes dreadlocks might look cool – I wonder if I can get them at the party shop?!!
We do have some pretty annoying magpies here in Calgary, but maybe not as fierce as these Australian ones! I love your idea of adding craft store purchased fake eyes to caps. Might get some interesting reactions!
I am probably a little more suspect about the reactions I might get, than the magpies themselves, Shelley! Your magpies in Calgary sound a little less abrasive 🙂
Sounds like where Alfred Hitchcock got his idea for The Birds horror movie of some decades ago! We have large black crows here but thankfully they seldom ‘swoop’ — instead they stomp around as though they owned whatever place you happened to be and loudly bleat — crow — if you annoy them.
Can just picture those crows, Jackie! Bleat is the word – here they sometimes sound like babies wailing 🙂
We have zillions of magpies in Calgary as well – though they take more of an interest in my dog than me. They also – just for the fun of it – circle a rabbit and when they get bored let it jump away.
Naughty, but intelligent birds aren’t they Leigh! It’s interesting to know where else in the world they swoop – seems from the various comments I need a dog!
Wow, how crazy! They even have warning signs! We thought drop bears were the only worry in Australia. 😉
Yes Gypsynesters – warning signs I think are a duty of care in these parts!
Magpies can be really scary at this time of year! I do love their cheerful chortling song though.
Their cheery chortling masks their warmongering dive bombing, hey Bonny!
I always have a laugh at those people who wear the colourful zip ties attached to their bike helmets. I have seen people armed with umbrellas and sticks as well to use in case of magpies attacking. Personally I haven’t been aggressively attacked by magpies, but I do know people who have been and come off second best. I normally walk with my dog so she seems to be more of a target than myself, thankfully.
Oh dear Kathy, and I have just become ‘one of they’ !! Dave yesterday attached (black) zip ties to my bike helmet because I’ve been whinging about magpies swooping! Yes, seems that dogs appear to ward them off – time to get a dog perhaps?
You can take your dog with you… Mine proves to be a better target and she doesn’t seem to mind the attention. The dog throwing stick thing held aloft is also helpful.
Going to keep a stick with me on my walks, Sue, but seems that everything is pointing towards getting a dog!
Oh my gosh, who knew? Glad the season will be over when we arrive in Queensland in December! They look Alfred Hitchcock enormous!
They can be Big and beafy, Betsy. Yes, it only lasts for a couple of weeks, so you’ll be perfectly out of magpie season when you arrive in Queensland.
I have never been attacked I must say but I know it does happen around this time of year. Definitely always wear a hat and sunglasses. A sunshade perhaps?
Yes, I think a sunshade’s a good idea Jill. You’re lucky never to have been swooped. I’ve been one of those who runs, flails their arms and screams blue murder!
Those magpie beaks do looks extremely sharp! In Canada, crows are also very aggressive during nesting season but I’ve never seen warning signs. You must have a lot of magpies in western Australia!
Interesting, Michele. I didn’t know that crows become aggressive during nesting season in Canada. I don’t think they do here (thank goodness)
I’d not heard of swooping magpies before. I am now forewarned should I visit western Australia in spring time. I having fun imaging decorating a bicycle helmet with zip ties.
Yes, Donna! And I got my hubby to spend half a car journey decorating mine yesterday!!
Yes – I have indeed been swooped and one drew blood from my son who at the time was but a baby with that delicate part of the scull still not solid – Blood poring down his face, not quite sure momentarily what damage had been done was scary –
Yes – bicycle helmets covered in those zip ties forming a spiky wig is one of the best protective measures!
But for the rest of the year their song is a charm and we have Cedric and Percy who come down onto our deck to be fed by hand – so I haven’t held it against them! 😉
Wow, Linda that must have been scary – especially because it happened to your baby. Yes, they are friendly and rather charming at other times, and Cedric and Percy sound well mannered enough!
Cool 🙂
Only if you don’t get dive-bombed, Muza-chan 🙂