Swooping magpies

So the fact that government removes nests of aggressive magpies from public places is going to make them worse.

By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth maggie got me in the ear! No damage was done though. That was the day I tried an entirely new route to avoid other menacing magpies and had to lap 7 times to get my daily kms. The same maggie swooped on me (got my ear only on the first attempt which almost gave me a heart attack!) twice per lap. After 5 laps (10 swoops) I gave up. Went somewhere else and did the rest of training. Damn, it's so hard not to find a peaceful place to do our harmless business. It's either drivers, pedestrians, dogs or magpies. Huh! Got it out of my system finally

 

"amirm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth
maggie
> got me in the ear! No damage was done though. That was the day I tried

I think they've picked up on this thread, those maggies, because I got tapped on the helmet this
morning, riding along Dandenong Rd. First one for the season...

I don't really see what the fuss is about though, I've only ever had them tap my helmet - some of
the horror stories posted though make it seem like I'm a lucky survivor or something!

hippy

 

"amirm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> So the fact that government removes nests of aggressive magpies from public places is going to
> make them worse.
>
> By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth maggie got me in the ear! No
> damage was done though. That was the day I tried an entirely new route to avoid other menacing
> magpies and had to lap 7 times to get my daily kms. The same maggie swooped on me (got my ear only
> on the first attempt which almost gave me a heart attack!) twice per lap. After 5 laps (10 swoops)
> I gave up. Went somewhere else and did the rest of training. Damn, it's so hard not to find a
> peaceful place to do our harmless business. It's either drivers, pedestrians, dogs or magpies.
> Huh! Got it out of my system finally

Last year I think a poster suggested a clear plastic shield attached to your helmet and covering the
back of your head and ears.

But it sounds like you need to cover your face as well - at least eyes, with eyeglasses, sunglasses
or builder's eye protectors from the hardware store (NB some of the latter are pretty stylish and
well priced these days - basically they look like low-tint sunglasses with good coverage).

I've got the ultimate solution - a Triton Powered Respirator! Basically a construction
(builder's) helmet with a full face shield attached, ear protectors, a cloth shroud over your neck
and back of head plus a battery-powered fan blowing filtered air into the whole thing. Not only
protects you from magpies, but also verbal abuse from old ladies (when riding on footpaths) and car
drivers, and pollution. Helmet probably not approved for cycling though :-( And you look like a
cross between Bob the Builder and a cyborg? from Dr Who.

 

Apologies to those who don't know the area in Sydney I'm talking about. It's about 15km southwest of
the city itself. Also, apologies about the length - it's fresh in the mind.

Along the M5 East (freeway) in Sydney part of the cycleway is closed for work on the Metrogrid
project (new underground power mains into the city). It's the southern side between Kingsgrove &
Bexley Rd's. This sent me via the northern side of the M5 last week. It's partially back streets
with some cycleway through a park.

I got into the park & bingo! The first swoop stunned me, fortunately I immediately realised what has
happening & dropped the hammer. This seemed to inspire the magpie as it could swoop me 3 or 4 times
in a single pass. I had about 500m to Kingsgrove road & I was moving (I'm a sprinter). The bird kept
coming. About 150m from the road, I started to worry, as it's a big intersection with an exit/entry
to the motorway. I thought 'what the f*** am I going to do if I hit the intersection at 50-60k's
with this bird still attacking me?'. Fortunately, it gave up about 75m from the road & swung up on
to a light pole to stare at me for a while. I stopped at the lights & composed myself. A rough count
would have put the number of passes at about 25, with contact being made 3 or 4 times.
Understandably, I took an alternate route back to Bexley Rd on the way home (via Kingsgrove Ave).

Today, I headed to Roselands shopping centre (on another note, anyone know if there are any proper
bike racks there?). I travelled the northern side of the M5 east again, this time I stuck to the
streets up until just before Kingsgrove Rd (avoiding the pathway). No attack. I got to King Georges
Rd & waited at the lights (opposite a school). A magpie arrive & looked down at me from up on the
lights. I started to worry & after a while, I stupidly broke eye contact. Whoosh! I managed to lock
back on to it until the lights changed. Then it chased me down King Georges Rd for a bit & buggered
off. Another location to avoid.

On my way home, I took a slightly different route & managed to race through the intersection before
any 'incidents'. Now all I had to do was retrace my route home & I'd be safe, right? Wrong! Back in
the Kingsgrove Rd to Bexley Rd stretch I was cruising through the 'safe' back streets when I got the
tap on the helmet. The chase was on again. I raced through most of the way to Bexley Rd & was "only"
swooped 7 or 8 times with no contact, but I'm pretty sure it was the same mongrel from last week.
They say they remember. Either it was venturing a street across from the pathway, or it spotted me
across the way.

Anyway, great timing on the Metrogrid closure Transgid! A nice barren piece of bike path with no
trees between a freeway & a canal. Perfect for riding at this time of the year. No, lets send the
pedestrians & cyclists through the trees in September.

When are they meant to stop swooping anyway?

Cheers,

Justin

"amirm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Tom N wrote:
> > A guy was killed recently by a magpie striking his eye. See e.g.
> > http://tinyurl.com/njf1http://tinyurl.com/njf1 which is
http:/-
> >
/www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7171577%255E2862,00-
> >
.htmlhttp://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7171577%-
> > 255E2862,00.html What techniques work depends on the individual magpie. In the case of the
> > above magpie, a shotgun is appropriate. I try to give magpies plenty of space at all times,
> > hopefully that
helps
> > them stay calm and be human-friendly in the future.
> > http://tinyurl.com/njg2http://tinyurl.com/njg2 (which is
http://www.the-
> >
couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,7238628%255E3102,00.ht-
> >
mlhttp://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,723862-
> > 8%255E3102,00.html ) says... Bird expert Dr Peter Mather, from Queensland University of
> > Technology, said the traditional view of why magpies attacked was they had past problems with
> > humans and long memories. Dr Mather said the birds lived 20 to 25 years and might
brand
> > all humans as threats, like goannas, after a single act of aggression. "While it hasn't been
> > 100 per cent demonstrated, there is certainly evidence that magpies are not usually aggressive
> > until someone interferes with their young," Dr Mather said. I am thinking of putting my little
> > dog (7kg) on the bike rack - but I
am
> > not sure if that would entice them more or less. Anyone tried one of those legionairres hats
> > (cloth flapping around behind your head) under your helmet, or a bike flag? "amirm"
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:3f5fafc9-
> > [email protected]:[email protected]
> > > Yesterday, the confounded birds got me three times.
> > >
> > > 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!
>
> So the fact that government removes nests of aggressive magpies from public places is going to
> make them worse.
>
> By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth maggie got me in the ear! No
> damage was done though. That was the day I tried an entirely new route to avoid other menacing
> magpies and had to lap 7 times to get my daily kms. The same maggie swooped on me (got my ear only
> on the first attempt which almost gave me a heart attack!) twice per lap. After 5 laps (10 swoops)
> I gave up. Went somewhere else and did the rest of training. Damn, it's so hard not to find a
> peaceful place to do our harmless business. It's either drivers, pedestrians, dogs or magpies.
> Huh! Got it out of my system finally
>
>
>
>
> --
> >--------------------------<
> Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com

 

"Justin Turner" <justin(nospam)@(nospam)logicalfusion.com.au> wrote
> Along the M5 East (freeway) in Sydney part of the cycleway is closed for work on the Metrogrid
> project (new underground power mains into the city). It's the southern side between Kingsgrove
> & Bexley Rd's. This sent me via the northern side of the M5 last week. It's partially back
> streets with
some
> cycleway through a park.

Dunno about that bike path but I've seen bike paths in Melbourne closed to be reconcreted. Didn't
actually stop me using the path - I was riding on smooth earth instead of concrete.

Maybe you should investigate how "closed" it really is. But the underground power mains bit could
be a worry.

 

Maybe they don't see hippies as a threat. Could be the flowers on your clothes or the long hair
or the tie-dye T shirts.

The only real danger is a) your eyes and b) you crash into something/ fall off/ get hit by a car
while worrying about being swooped and pecked. Otherwise the danger of a magpie is no worse than the
danger of a moderate "off".

Puts me off riding in magpie season. But maybe I am a wuss.

The bike paths near me all seem to have at least one swooping magpie - in one place the council even
put up a "Danger swooping magpie" (Kew - near Chandler Hwy bridge over Eastern Fwy) so that bugger
must be bad (never seen him myself).

"hippy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "amirm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth
> maggie
> > got me in the ear! No damage was done though. That was the day I tried
>
> I think they've picked up on this thread, those maggies, because I got tapped on the helmet this
> morning, riding along Dandenong Rd. First one for the season...
>
> I don't really see what the fuss is about though, I've only ever had them tap my helmet - some of
> the horror stories posted though make it seem like I'm a lucky survivor or something!

 

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> "amirm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > By the way, the day after I posted the original message, a fourth
> maggie
> > got me in the ear! No damage was done though. That was the day I tried
>
> I think they've picked up on this thread, those maggies, because I got tapped on the helmet this
> morning, riding along Dandenong Rd. First one for the season...
>
> I don't really see what the fuss is about though, I've only ever had them tap my helmet - some of
> the horror stories posted though make it seem like I'm a lucky survivor or something!
>
> hippy
>
I'm with you there. I know where they are, so don't get a huge fright (which could be bad for you)
when I get tapped on the helmet several times. I do make sure that I don't turn around to frighten
it away, as I worry about my eyes. Easy to simply keep riding and ignore the thing.

 

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...

> I don't really see what the fuss is about though, I've only ever had them tap my helmet - some of
> the horror stories posted though make it seem like I'm a lucky survivor or something!
>
> hippy

When I was a little tot, I ended up with a couple of stitches in the top of my head where one hit
me. Scared the bejesus out of me. I did a Superman into the side of a car a couple of years ago, and
obliterated the original scar, replacing it with a decent fifteen stitch one.

Regards,

Suzy

 

"Tom N" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]
> But it sounds like you need to cover your face as well - at least eyes,
with
> eyeglasses, sunglasses or builder's eye protectors from the hardware store (NB some of the latter
> are pretty stylish and well priced these days - basically they look like low-tint sunglasses with
> good coverage).

Well it's my opinion that you should always wear glasses of some sort while riding anyway. Unless
I'm just going to the shops, I'll always have my $15 yellow (for night visibility) safety glasses
on. Before you worry that my socks are pulled to my knees and I've got trousers clips on (sorry
anyone who likes this look).. these actually look ok. As Tom says, they just look like a standard
pair of Oakley knockoffs, but have clear-yellow lens. I do have another pair with a dark tint for
daytime summer riding and a pair of Scott, but they give everything a strong red tint.

> I've got the ultimate solution - a Triton Powered Respirator!
Basically
> a construction (builder's) helmet with a full face shield attached, ear protectors, a cloth shroud
> over your neck and back of head plus a battery-powered fan blowing filtered air into the whole
> thing. Not only protects you from magpies, but also verbal abuse from old ladies (when

If verbal abuse from old ladies is a problem.. you are riding too slow!

> riding on footpaths) and car drivers, and pollution. Helmet probably not approved for cycling
> though :-( And you look like a cross between Bob
the
> Builder and a cyborg? from Dr Who.

Cool. ;-) Do they come tie-dyed?

hippy

 

Unfortunately it's totally fenced off & full of excavators & trucks. It's part of a 28km trench to
the city (which is going to be passing by my street shortly so I'm told). It's streets or swoops for
me until the end of November.

"Tom N" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:%[email protected]...
> "Justin Turner" <justin(nospam)@(nospam)logicalfusion.com.au> wrote
> > Along the M5 East (freeway) in Sydney part of the cycleway is closed for work on the Metrogrid
> > project (new underground power mains into the
city).
> > It's the southern side between Kingsgrove & Bexley Rd's. This sent me
via
> > the northern side of the M5 last week. It's partially back streets with
> some
> > cycleway through a park.
>
> Dunno about that bike path but I've seen bike paths in Melbourne closed to be reconcreted. Didn't
> actually stop me using the path - I was riding on smooth earth instead of concrete.
>
> Maybe you should investigate how "closed" it really is. But the
underground
> power mains bit could be a worry.

 

Yesterday I saw a magpie attacking a flying goose that was about 4 or 5 times its size. The goose looked scared too.

Thus:
(1) cyclists are not the only ones to be attacked by magpies. Geese are also attacked.
(2) I have seen the occasional cyclist looking like a goose.

Is there a connection???

 

Your logic is skewed mate!

 

They won't evolve into non-swooping maggies. You will just select out the ones who are not to good
at it and help to breed super swoopers.

Mitch Pollard wrote:
> I dont want to come across as cruel or evil, but ever since i saw my best mate get smashed hard in
> the head when we were 9 years old. from a dirty maggie. Ive had a chip on my shoulder. I always
> play baseball with them. remember, evolution with only happen if you change things. and by me,
> owning maggies when they swoop. they will evolve into non swooping bitches..
>
>
>
> "Jock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>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 "amirm"
>><[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Yesterday, the confounded birds got me three times.
>>>
>>>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
>>
>>

 

"Justin Turner" <justin(nospam)@(nospam)logicalfusion.com.au> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Unfortunately it's totally fenced off & full of excavators & trucks. It's part of a 28km trench to
> the city (which is going to be passing by my
street
> shortly so I'm told). It's streets or swoops for me until the end of November.

They're not that bad.. just look at them as a challenging 'obstacle' There was one persistant one
last year near Heatherdale Rd. I think on his best day, he tapped my helmet 7 times as I went past.
I used to try and get tricky and sneak up on him on the service road and then sprint when I saw him
- great fun!

hippy
- what doesn't peck your eyes out makes you stronger!

 

Must be all the magpie beaks penetrating my skull over the years...

 

amirm <[email protected]> wrote:
# Tom N wrote:
# > A guy was killed recently by a magpie striking his eye. See e.g.
# > http://tinyurl.com/njf1http://tinyurl.com/njf1 which is http:/-
# > /www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7171577%255E2862,00-
# > .htmlhttp://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7171577%- 255E2862,00.html

# > Queensland University of Technology, said the traditional view of why magpies attacked was
# > they had past problems with humans and long memories. Dr Mather said the birds lived 20 to 25
# > years and might brand all humans as threats, like goannas, after a single act of aggression.
# > "While it hasn't been 100 per cent demonstrated, there is certainly evidence that magpies are
# > not usually aggressive until someone interferes with their young," Dr Mather said.

# So the fact that government removes nests of aggressive magpies from public places is going to
# make them worse.

Removing nests doesn't prevent aggressive birds breeding in future years and so passing on their
aggressive genes. But traits like swooping are usually pretty heritable. If there were a way of
preventing the aggressive birds from breeding, I'm sure there'd be equally many birds in urban
area, and much better behaved ones too. Dorre

 

"Dorre" wrote:

> Removing nests doesn't prevent aggressive birds breeding in future years and so passing on their
> aggressive genes. But traits like swooping are usually pretty heritable. If there were a way of
> preventing the aggressive birds from breeding, I'm sure there'd be equally many birds in urban
> area, and much better behaved ones too.

I think we could have a "nature or nurture" debate about this. Birds have a remarkable ability to
learn, copying the behaviour of successful parents (imprinting??).

Normally, magpies stop swooping as soon as the young leave the nest (but different pairs nest at
different times through the spring). But come November/December, you'll see half-hearted swooping
behaviour from dad magpie with junior (nearly full-sized) watching attentively nearby. I suspect
that part of the training includes which animals to swoop.

Taming suburban birds by feeding them just might be the most effective strategy - sounds like a PhD
topic for someone...

John

 

"Dorre" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Removing nests doesn't prevent aggressive birds breeding in future years and so passing on their
> aggressive genes. But traits like swooping are usually pretty heritable. If there were a way of
> preventing the aggressive birds from breeding, I'm sure there'd be equally many birds in urban
> area, and much better behaved ones too.

What about traits like dumping the clutch at 6000rpm, impatience, speeding, accelerating through
amber/red lights, throwing stuff from car windows, road rage, the "need" to take little Emily to MLC
in the biggest car available and the apparently linked inability to drive this "tank". I would much
prefer these traits to be removed from humans... the birds can continue do as they please - they
present the least of my concerns on the road.

</rant> hippy

 

The real fun starts when you get attacked by two magpies at once, as happened to me a couple of weeks ago!

I've taken to squirting them with my waterbottle, which will at least deter an attack for a few seconds, giving you time to get out of their "zone" (magpies do seem to be pretty territorial). Although right now in hot, drought-affected Queensland, I think the waste of water might be worse than anything the magpie might do.