gabdy

It is spring in this neck of the woods and it is the season for magpies. Black and white mofo's that like to swoop. I get hit by about 6 different ones every ride. They swoop down from the high gum trees or power lines and have about 3 or 4 attempts. Most are bluffs but you get the odd one that tries to peck or claw, its a real pain in the arse and nerve racking.

Do you guys in the home of the brave have to deal with bird attacks during spring?

operator

I buy a holster for my bike, carry a pistol and shoot them out of the sky.

gabdy

I know that's a joke, but I love animals and they are just trying to protect their young. Plus it is illegal to kill them. Harass or try and hit them and they become more aggressive.

I have also only ever fired a gun once in my life. I'd have trouble hitting myself with a bullet.

Fixitman

Quote:

It is spring in this neck of the woods

Oh great rub it in, We are supposed to get an inch of rain here tomorrow with some rather chilly temps. Old man winter and too many hours on a trainer are just around the corner.
In answer to your bird question. No never, but there is always a first time for everything.

happyvalley

A woman I know was attacked by a redtail hawk here in Colorado. It swooped down from a large nesting tree and clawed her scalp through her helmet requiring stitches. Needless to say she started taking an alternate route from then on.

gabdy

To rub salt into my wounds, these are the only birds that ever came after me. LOL.

dcbikeguy

gabdy

That is nasty, I'm glad Magpies aren't bird of prey. Because that would pose a real problem.

gabdy

Thanks, Im hungry now.

Enthalpic

Magpies can be real bad; we had one around my place that went nuts, attacking everyone in the parking lot.

On rides I have been attacked numerous times by these little black birds with red heads, I searched the internet for what kind of bird they are… redheaded blackbirds haha.

I used to run near large groups of geese... those things can be almost scary at their size and they don’t readily get out of your way.

Steev

My dad said they used to put paper eyes on the back of their hats and it would stop them.

gabdy

That's a myth. I've tried everything. It doesn't work. A broad rimmed hat and stick held high works apparently, but it is a bit hard while riding. They'll usually go after the highest point. A flag might work, but that would confirm my fredness.

AnthonyG

Yes don't you love the magpies.

Maybe I've just gotten used to them but they don't seem to be bothering me much at the moment, knock on wood! I've taken to just being relaxed, looking them in the eye when they fly beside you and just generaly marvel at nature and all is fine. Think of it as a friendly escort if you can.

You could try putting the zip ties in your helmet which seems to be popular although I haven't tried it. TOO fred!

If they're being realy agressive what I do is watch thier shadow on the ground and when they are about to strike I stick my head UP. This is enough to put them off their strike. They will keep trying but if you keep sticking your head up just as they are about to strike this will be enough to put them off untill they have had enough.

Regards, Anthony

Machka 

As soon as I read the title, I thought ... this person must be from Australia, and must be talking about the magpies!! Yeah, they can be a real pain!

However, I was told that what some Australian cyclists do to ward them off is to tie two zip-ties to their helmets (toward the back) so that the zip ties stick straight up in the air, like antenna. Evidently that helps.

I never tried it ... so I can't tell you if it really works or not, and I wasn't sure why it would work, but if magpies do go for the highest point, perhaps that is the thinking behind the zip-tie trick.

gabdy

Thanks Machka and AnthonyG. Never heard of the cable tie trick. Might give it a go. Fredly, but not as fredly as the 6 foot bright flag I was thinking about.

scattered73

time this happened to me I thought some kids threw something at me, until I stopped to see what was thrown at me and bam hit by the bird again. In my case it was a mockingbird, stupid protected state bird. Attacks on of my coworkers all the time who lives on the street and bikes to work, makes for a killer sprint. I was really amazed at how hard it hit my helmet, I thought I was hit by a small newspaper at first.

classic1

Bloody magpies. I rode up the street this morning to get the paper and one got me fair in head, which sucks because it attacked me in the middle of the town, not out in the countryside.

Machka 

Up here in Canada the little Red Wing Blackbirds are the aggressive ones. They look so small and innocent when they are sitting there on the cattails, and next thing you know you've got one screeching at you and trying to knock your helmet off.

bitingduck

Every morning in the backyard when I let them out:

https://bitingduck.com

bitingduck

Probably started by someone who wanted to see everyone riding around looking like aliens with antennae.

samsation7

your solution:

LWaB

There are a couple of buzzards in SW England renowned for attacking cyclists. 'Eyes on helmets' don't seem to work there either.

BHBiker

I got attacked twice by black and white magpies....on the m7 sydney...one was last thrusday justafter richmond road overpass and the other one was about last week at rooty hill near the station road,...I bloody hate them!!!

LWaB

I've found that giving a lift on my tandem to a friend needing to get to his badminton game can result in a satisfactory outcome...

gabdy

That can be dangerous on a motorway. You would have to hold your line and not swerve. I swerved on a 60Km/h road and luckily the motorist was aware and backed off. I only went into the lane by about a foot. That one pecked the helmet 3 times.

I ride mostly out at the Camden, razorback, cobbity area etc. Rural area with plenty of Magpies. Can't wait for december. But then I have to worry about skin cancer, as I burn to a crisp within an hour. I go through a tube of Sunscrean a week during summer.