What's up with Birds and Cycling
07-19-10, 09:46 PM
#26
Raising the bar
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I almost rode right by a deer on the same road as me. It was so still and calm, I didn't notice it. Then I looked at it for a long time, and slowly proceeded. It bolted.
07-19-10, 09:57 PM
#27
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Yea, we make fun of that "you don't see me look." But it's there because it works. Probably much better when you're not on black top...
07-19-10, 11:33 PM
#28
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The magpies will be in South Australia soon enough. We just moved here in Feb. from the States so I've never had the Aussie Magpie Experience. I have seen some of the local with antennas attached to there helmets to fend off the magpies. Normally they are very friendly birds, except when spring comes and they are protective of their young. I'm currently looking at one sitting on our porch handrail. I feed them everyday to build up my karma. I'll try to get some antenna photos on this thread.
07-20-10, 12:13 AM
#29
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07-20-10, 02:06 AM
#30
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The magpies will be in South Australia soon enough. We just moved here in Feb. from the States so I've never had the Aussie Magpie Experience. I have seen some of the local with antennas attached to there helmets to fend off the magpies. Normally they are very friendly birds, except when spring comes and they are protective of their young. I'm currently looking at one sitting on our porch handrail. I feed them everyday to build up my karma. I'll try to get some antenna photos on this thread.
07-20-10, 07:58 AM
#33
well hello there
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07-20-10, 11:14 AM
#34
Medicinal Cyclist
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OP,
I keep a couple of birds. They're flighty with anything they don't trust, and it's hard to get them to trust anything. Even new food is something they'll run from.
You may not be a threat, or have been the last 5,000 times you road by. But they don't know that cause they ran away the last 5,000 times: Cause you could have been a threat.
If a bird can't get into the air it's done for if you turn out to be a threat. And taking off is a relatively slow and difficult process. Once it's in the air it's safe from ground animals. So it opts to fly to the nearest tree, wait for you to leave, and return to scavenging.
I keep a couple of birds. They're flighty with anything they don't trust, and it's hard to get them to trust anything. Even new food is something they'll run from.
You may not be a threat, or have been the last 5,000 times you road by. But they don't know that cause they ran away the last 5,000 times: Cause you could have been a threat.
If a bird can't get into the air it's done for if you turn out to be a threat. And taking off is a relatively slow and difficult process. Once it's in the air it's safe from ground animals. So it opts to fly to the nearest tree, wait for you to leave, and return to scavenging.
Rats with wings? Nach, you've never been accused of being a romantic, have you?
07-20-10, 03:22 PM
#35
'09 Synapse Carbon 3
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I never had a close call with a bird until yesterday. Usually it is the rabbits I worry about. Yesterday a sparrow kamikazed me. It flew right past my shin. I felt the brush of its wing. I have no clue how it made it through the center of my bike as there was no collision.
07-20-10, 03:36 PM
#36
CAT4
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I have had a deer run along side of me in a field while I was on a fast descent. The deer was zig zagging and leaping but still going parallel to me for about a 1/4 mile. It felt like I was racing a deer for a while.
07-20-10, 03:52 PM
#37
Game Warden of Love
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I've made flocks of sheep and herds of cows run...it only takes one then they all run. Sometimes the cows all watch you go by calmly-all of their heads moving in unison-weird.
07-20-10, 07:16 PM
#38
Medicinal Cyclist
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Cows around here tend to get spooked in the spring after they've spent the winter in the barn and barnyard. Once they get out into the pasture, they get a little skittish. I've sent a herd or two back to the barn in my day. By mid summer, however, all they do is give you that dull, innocent look. "You talkin' to me?" I always talk to the domestic animals when I ride, including the dogs. I like to make friends.
07-20-10, 09:20 PM
#40
Old fart
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07-21-10, 12:42 AM
#42
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I had a small (about the size of a tennis ball) bird hit me in the face while riding home from work one night. Freaked the **** out of me.
07-21-10, 12:58 AM
#43
cyclepath
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wow, thought it was photo shopped for a moment. What's up with that anyway? Riding near the nest? And what kind of bird is that? btw, I've heard birds are the descendants of dinosaurs.
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07-21-10, 07:16 AM
#44
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They're Magpies and are very protective of their nests and will swoop anyone, in parks, streets, urban areas. When they hit you're grateful to be wearing a helmet.
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