Swooping magpies

"Andy©" wrote in message
...

If you can manage to look at them, you`ll find they wont attack.
They`ll only attack if youre not facing them.
If it becomes really troublesome try sticking some paper cut eyes on
the back of your helmet to simulate that youre looking at them.

That can be dangerous. I've seen a rider with a large scratch above his
eyebrow done by a magpie. He explained that he'd done what you've suggested,
putting fake eyes on the back of his helmet. This caused the bird to attack
the front of his head under the impression it was the back.

Nick

I took a spin to catch up with my weekly kms. On the route that I
normally take for this purpose, I have been being swooped on two
locations regularly. Yesterday, I took an extended version of the route
and the third bird got me, too.

After encountering these birds I can see that their swooping behaviour
varies. One of them only comes close so I can hear him/her approaching,
but never makes any contact. The second bird (different spot) always
makes only one contact. It feels as if he/she kind of grabs on my jersy
for a short time. No contacts with helmet. Since I do about 50-60 kmh on
that part of the route, I guess one swoop is enough, and by then I have
already left the territory!

The bloody third one yesterday got me when I was doing like 30 kmh. This
one kept bashing on my helmet. At least 6-7 times! It wouldn't let me
go. Kept coming back for a good 300 meters. I got so angry I thought I
would grab the bloody neck of the bird and snap the dumb head off, but I
could only wish!



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Last Saturday I was the victim of a swooping. We parked under the
maggies tree, so can't complain when we got swooped. So I thought that
by leaving its area it would leave me alone. I was wrong when I jumped
on my bike and took off I was hit about 5 times on the helmet. On
approach for the sixth time I took my eyes of the road to see it
approach, hit a rock and came off spectacularly. My mates thought it
was hilarious! Whilst on the grounded winded the bloody bird kept
swooping me (not making contact though). I was now a good 100 meters
from its tree!

Don't know why but there were a group of people under the tree when we
arrived and they were not getting attacked and as we drove off it sat
in the tree and still didn't swoop them.

I took a spin to catch up with my weekly kms. On the route that I
normally take for this purpose, I have been being swooped on two
locations regularly. Yesterday, I took an extended version of the route
and the third bird got me, too.

After encountering these birds I can see that their swooping behaviour
varies. One of them only comes close so I can hear him/her approaching,
but never makes any contact. The second bird (different spot) always
makes only one contact. It feels as if he/she kind of grabs on my jersy
for a short time. No contacts with helmet. Since I do about 50-60 kmh on
that part of the route, I guess one swoop is enough, and by then I have
already left the territory!

The bloody third one yesterday got me when I was doing like 30 kmh. This
one kept bashing on my helmet. At least 6-7 times! It wouldn't let me
go. Kept coming back for a good 300 meters. I got so angry I thought I
would grab the bloody neck of the bird and snap the dumb head off, but I
could only wish!



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
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Last Saturday I was the victim of a swooping. We parked under the
maggies tree, so can't complain when we got swooped. So I thought that
by leaving its area it would leave me alone. I was wrong when I jumped
on my bike and took off I was hit about 5 times on the helmet. On
approach for the sixth time I took my eyes of the road to see it
approach, hit a rock and came off spectacularly. My mates thought it
was hilarious! Whilst on the grounded winded the bloody bird kept
swooping me (not making contact though). I was now a good 100 meters
from its tree!

Don't know why but there were a group of people under the tree when we
arrived and they were not getting attacked and as we drove off it sat
in the tree and still didn't swoop them.

"Jock" wrote in message
...
Think how you would be feeling if your nuts had just grown 20 times
larger.
I reckon I'd be a little touchy as well and lash out here & there.
The hat with eyes on the back is the go. They are cowards & won't attack
you if they think you can see them.
Jock


I rode through a new housing estate at Edens Landing about four years ago in
September (or nesting season anyway) and there were several swooping magpies
that got me cornered on an uphill. I got off my bike and they were
confronting me. I recall at least one was landing on the ground and kept
trying to fly up behind me, so I had to spin around and keep it in front of
me. After a minute or so I just had to ride away waving my one arm in the
air.

"Jock" wrote in message
...
Think how you would be feeling if your nuts had just grown 20 times
larger.
I reckon I'd be a little touchy as well and lash out here & there.
The hat with eyes on the back is the go. They are cowards & won't attack
you if they think you can see them.
Jock


I rode through a new housing estate at Edens Landing about four years ago in
September (or nesting season anyway) and there were several swooping magpies
that got me cornered on an uphill. I got off my bike and they were
confronting me. I recall at least one was landing on the ground and kept
trying to fly up behind me, so I had to spin around and keep it in front of
me. After a minute or so I just had to ride away waving my one arm in the
air.

I thought Magpies would be a pretty good training aid. You have to
sprint to get through the attack zone and possibly if you're going fast
enough the bird won't keep up.

But honestly, magpies a menace and a dangerous threat to all cyclists.
Cyclists are the most vulnerable when it comes to magpies and none of
the old wives remedies appear to have any effect. I think magpies
actually target cyclists over any other group as they do appear very odd
and vulnerable and therefore weaker.

I pity those poor souls who actually have no choice but to ride on their
own through magpie territory. I personally have decided only to go on
bunch rides until the season is over. Safety in numbers right? But even
this does not seem to deter these birds.

One thing I do believe is that these birds are approaching plague
proportions in our suburbs. I believe it is because generation after
generation are being hand fed around the clock by well meaning
suburbanites instead of the population being cut back by environmental
factors during leaner times. With more and more birds reaching maturity,
their individual territories are beginning get crowded and they're
becoming more aggressive



--
--------------------------
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I thought Magpies would be a pretty good training aid. You have to
sprint to get through the attack zone and possibly if you're going fast
enough the bird won't keep up.

But honestly, magpies a menace and a dangerous threat to all cyclists.
Cyclists are the most vulnerable when it comes to magpies and none of
the old wives remedies appear to have any effect. I think magpies
actually target cyclists over any other group as they do appear very odd
and vulnerable and therefore weaker.

I pity those poor souls who actually have no choice but to ride on their
own through magpie territory. I personally have decided only to go on
bunch rides until the season is over. Safety in numbers right? But even
this does not seem to deter these birds.

One thing I do believe is that these birds are approaching plague
proportions in our suburbs. I believe it is because generation after
generation are being hand fed around the clock by well meaning
suburbanites instead of the population being cut back by environmental
factors during leaner times. With more and more birds reaching maturity,
their individual territories are beginning get crowded and they're
becoming more aggressive



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com

On 12 Sep 2003 13:34:08 +0950, Paul J
wrote:


But honestly, magpies a menace and a dangerous threat to all cyclists.
Cyclists are the most vulnerable when it comes to magpies

What, more vulnerable than pedestrians? If so, why not just get off
the bike and walk? Are you thinking about this, Paul?

and none of
the old wives remedies appear to have any effect.

The eyes I painted on the back of my helmet would disagree with
this...

I think magpies
actually target cyclists over any other group as they do appear very odd
and vulnerable and therefore weaker.

Oh Paul, why in blazes would a magpie only seek to attack things which
are WEAK? These birds are trying to defend their nest and their young.
Weak foes would pose no threat to their young. You are in their
territory, pure and simple.

As much as I dislike being swooped, I admire their courage!

Sg.

On 12 Sep 2003 13:34:08 +0950, Paul J
wrote:


But honestly, magpies a menace and a dangerous threat to all cyclists.
Cyclists are the most vulnerable when it comes to magpies

What, more vulnerable than pedestrians? If so, why not just get off
the bike and walk? Are you thinking about this, Paul?

and none of
the old wives remedies appear to have any effect.

The eyes I painted on the back of my helmet would disagree with
this...

I think magpies
actually target cyclists over any other group as they do appear very odd
and vulnerable and therefore weaker.

Oh Paul, why in blazes would a magpie only seek to attack things which
are WEAK? These birds are trying to defend their nest and their young.
Weak foes would pose no threat to their young. You are in their
territory, pure and simple.

As much as I dislike being swooped, I admire their courage!

Sg.

Maybe there is some kind of conspiracy going on between the magpies and
aus.car..they all hate cyclists lol



"Jeff" wrote in message
om...

I took a spin to catch up with my weekly kms. On the route that I
normally take for this purpose, I have been being swooped on two
locations regularly. Yesterday, I took an extended version of the
route
and the third bird got me, too.

After encountering these birds I can see that their swooping
behaviour
varies. One of them only comes close so I can hear him/her
approaching,
but never makes any contact. The second bird (different spot) always
makes only one contact. It feels as if he/she kind of grabs on my
jersy
for a short time. No contacts with helmet. Since I do about 50-60
kmh on
that part of the route, I guess one swoop is enough, and by then I
have
already left the territory!

The bloody third one yesterday got me when I was doing like 30 kmh.
This
one kept bashing on my helmet. At least 6-7 times! It wouldn't let
me
go. Kept coming back for a good 300 meters. I got so angry I thought
I
would grab the bloody neck of the bird and snap the dumb head off,
but I
could only wish!



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com

Last Saturday I was the victim of a swooping. We parked under the
maggies tree, so can't complain when we got swooped. So I thought that
by leaving its area it would leave me alone. I was wrong when I jumped
on my bike and took off I was hit about 5 times on the helmet. On
approach for the sixth time I took my eyes of the road to see it
approach, hit a rock and came off spectacularly. My mates thought it
was hilarious! Whilst on the grounded winded the bloody bird kept
swooping me (not making contact though). I was now a good 100 meters
from its tree!

Don't know why but there were a group of people under the tree when we
arrived and they were not getting attacked and as we drove off it sat
in the tree and still didn't swoop them.