...with eyes painted on the top
First mountain lions, now buzzards. Rich should take care as
he nears the end of his JOGLE.
From:
news.bbc.co.uk3795303.stmOpen ↗
""" Buzzard giving cyclists the bird
An angry buzzard is being blamed for a spate of attacks on
cyclists in Devon.
In one incident, the bird struck a rider on the back of the
head as she pedalled on the A3072 at Stapleton Corner near
Holsworthy.
Experts believe the buzzard - which can weigh up to 1kg and
have a one-metre wingspan - may be protecting a nest.
Emma Parkin, from the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds, said painting large eye shapes on cycling helmets may
repel the bird.
Ms Parkin said: "They are beautiful birds and are very
common in Devon.
"They are normally very timid, but this one appears to have
lost its fear of man and clearly must have a nest close by
which it is protecting."
Linda Johnston, a member of the Devon branch of the
Cyclists' Touring Club, was cycling the route on
Wednesday evening when she was struck on the back of the
head by the buzzard.
She said: "After it hit me I could see it hovering and
thought it was going to come back, so I speeded up and got
away as quick as I could.
"It really did hurt and gave me a fright.
"It is quite dangerous, it could make someone lose their
balance and fall off ".
A local cycling club is due to carry out a time trial on the
route on Sunday morning and the Ruby Run 2004, a half
marathon from Hatherleigh to Holsworthy, will take place on
Sunday with up to 200 runners and walkers expected.
One of the race organisers, Roy Smith, said the buzzard
appeared to be targeting cyclists rather than runners.
He said: "It's hard to know what to do, I don't think we
should cancel the event but we will warn people to watch
out for it.
"But it does seem to be avoiding people on two legs and
going for those on two wheels.
"Bill Oddie is in the vicinity at the moment, perhaps we
should ask him what to do about it." """