late season bombers

Ray Peace said:

Greetings,
Got bombed last Sunday by what appeared to be a large wattle bird
just down the road here. Avian in question actually hit my helmet, then
chortled as it settled into nearby tree. Did not get a good look at it,
was more concerned with getting out of range.
Was not aware that these blighters bombed, and getting a bit late in the
season anyway. Will avoid that street for a while.
Regards,
Ray.

They definitely bomb, but my experience is they start a bit later than
magpies (just when you think things are settling down). There's one on
our Sunday BR. Last year we would cop it just over the crest of a nasty
hill so at least you could get some speed up downhill and get away. This
year we're copping it on the last part of the climb so there is no where
to hide. Not sure if it's getting smarter or meaner.

DaveB

Happened to me this morning. Never seen wattle birds swoop before, must be learning from the maggies. Just brushed my shoulder twice while I was on a little section of dirt next to the trail along the Merri Ck near Dight's Falls.

Ray Peace said:

Greetings,
Got bombed last Sunday by what appeared to be a large wattle bird
just down the road here. Avian in question actually hit my helmet, then
chortled as it settled into nearby tree. Did not get a good look at it,
was more concerned with getting out of range.
Was not aware that these blighters bombed, and getting a bit late in the
season anyway. Will avoid that street for a while.

There's one of these in Clifton Hill, just near the old
Fairfield hospital site. Funny bird .. clonk ... helmets work 🙂

Ray Peace said:

Greetings,
Got bombed last Sunday by what appeared to be a large wattle bird
just down the road here. Avian in question actually hit my helmet, then
chortled as it settled into nearby tree. Did not get a good look at it,
was more concerned with getting out of range.
Was not aware that these blighters bombed, and getting a bit late in the
season anyway. Will avoid that street for a while.
Regards,
Ray.

I was riding along on Monday with a Peewee hovering about 1.5m above me.
I could see its shadow on the ground as it swooped occassionally, not
doing any harm. Must have looked very funny to the drivers passing by,
cyclist looking oblivious to bird's best attempts at harassment.

Now I'm wondering whether I can train a bird to sit about a metre above
my head while I ride. Would be much better than one of those dicky
orange flags. Maybe I could get a magpie and train it as an attack bird.

P
--
Peter McCallum
Mackay Qld AUSTRALIA

On 26/10/05 at 10:05:47 slaw somehow managed to type:

Quoted message said:

Happened to me this morning. Never seen wattle birds swoop before,

For the last few years there's been a pair of magpies nesting in one of
the bloody great gum trees in the street. Apart from this last season
they've been _THE_ black belt, maniac swoopers of the street.

They've lost their spot in the "Swoopers League" and the wattle birds
have taken over..... This year a pair of 'em nested in a street banksia
and they were total [censored], just feather coated pure flying
AGRESSION. They really did put the magpies to shame for effort,
persistance, accuracy and a willingness to take on anything - dog, cat,
person (adult or child), anything... Easily the best in the street.

Why they can't behave 'emselves and be good neighbours like the crow
family a couple of trees down the street. They stick to 'emselves,
don't go in for swooping and don't squabble. Occasionally they have
about twenty noisy mates over but that's not often and only for an hour
or so...:-)

Cycling content. Absolutely none...:-)

--
Humbug

On 2005-10-26, Peter McCallum (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

I was riding along on Monday with a Peewee hovering about 1.5m above me.
I could see its shadow on the ground as it swooped occassionally, not
doing any harm. Must have looked very funny to the drivers passing by,
cyclist looking oblivious to bird's best attempts at harassment.

Now I'm wondering whether I can train a bird to sit about a metre above
my head while I ride. Would be much better than one of those dicky
orange flags. Maybe I could get a magpie and train it as an attack bird.

And then train the bird so that, once per year, on international talk
like a pirate day, it sits on your shoulder.

Arrrrr!

--
TimC
Just because they are called 'forbidden' transitions does not mean
that they are forbidden. They are less allowed than allowed
transitions, if you see what I mean. --unknown

TimC said:

On 2005-10-26, Peter McCallum (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

I was riding along on Monday with a Peewee hovering about 1.5m above me.
I could see its shadow on the ground as it swooped occassionally, not
doing any harm. Must have looked very funny to the drivers passing by,
cyclist looking oblivious to bird's best attempts at harassment.

Now I'm wondering whether I can train a bird to sit about a metre above
my head while I ride. Would be much better than one of those dicky
orange flags. Maybe I could get a magpie and train it as an attack bird.

And then train the bird so that, once per year, on international talk
like a pirate day, it sits on your shoulder.

Arrrrr!

As long as he doesn't peck me buckaneers... aggrrrrr!

--
Peter McCallum
Mackay Qld AUSTRALIA