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Swooping Magpies... are cable ties the answer?
Like me, magpies tend to be born in September but luckily my parents didn't dive bomb everyone who came near me when I was a baby. Unfortunately one of the little critters seems yo have made a nest on one of the main roads near me and on two occasions been observed to physically attack people's helmets. I've seen people put long cable ties over their helmets in an effort to deter the nasty things away. Can anyone vouch as to whether it actually works or any other ideas on avoiding nasty surprises with black and white feathers?
If I catch one of those birds, I swear someone will be making mag-pie!
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You need stick on eyes that make the bird think you're looking up at it.
Cable ties work on the 3 magpies between my house at Winmalee and the Great Western Highway. I know because a mate and I conducted a very scientific experiment, where he rode past sans cable ties and got torn a new one. I then rode past with 2 BIG cable ties on my helmet, and even though the black and white stuka's commenced their dive pattern, they broke off when they realised their air space was compromised by the cable ties.
The magpies further down in Emu Plains dismiss the cable ties as if they weren't there. They attack me from the side, which is way more terrifying than a traditional magpie attack!
Maybe use cable ties and eyes. You'll look way cool.
I see people getting attacked this time of year all the time....my advice they have no effort and you look like a tool with cable ties attached to your helmet. Just avoid riding past where the Magpie is, or if you cant just enjoy playing chicken with it for a couple of months.
This year, for the first time, I've noticed little blue signs around Warringah warning of magpies swooping. Do they have any effect? I've walked past them a few times without being dive bombed. It could be the sign working or due to the 37 kg bird eating monster tied to my hand.
Maybe get a little blue sign......... or tie a ridgeback to your helmet?
with cable ties last Sept. if they kept the birds away. Started with 6, went to 12, didn't make any difference so took them off.
On the Babbage Road birds up from Roseville Bridge, I did find my GoPro hanging off the left side of my helmet (would come down that side from behind) put it off so it didn't swoop right down close.
Sorry about the poor video, should have aimed it up a bit, will do another one soon this year.
http://youtu.be/rDDyRfHWzNs
I find waving my arms about the place works if you know where the birds are.
As for the Gibbes Street Butcher........., who nose(!) what will put that one off.
.. mounted backwards and pointing slightly up, and turned on. A double pair like Ayups would look even more like eyes. Anyone tried that?
They swoop because they perceive you as a threat. Your still a perceived threat even with cable ties. We get them nesting in the trees around our house but I guess they don't swoop because they are use to us.
There's a pesky one on my gorges route. At least they are not like butcher birds and just come down from above. You are generally safe as long as you keep your face down although it doesn't stop them scaring the shit out of you though
They swoop to chase you out of their domain. Fleeing (continuing to ride away ) reinforces this behaviour if every one stopped and taught the bird swooping has the opposite effect the bird would stop doing it to cyclists
Depends on the bird. They are quite intelligent and the behavior is passed from parent to chick and if the male gets taken out the female will take up the cudgel with even greater vigour.
What works with one is guaranteed not to be a panacea for all. They can also recognise and remember individual riders.
I had one had one swoop me at the end of our street. I turned and chased it and shook the tree it landed in. It took off and was attacked by a pair of Indian Mynahs. I have not been bothered by it since.
Another option is to try befriending it with food.
Personally I think it is a ludicrous inversion of values that allows people to get hurt or injured and sometimes blinded aand no one will act because they're "protected" simply by being native. If they were endangered I could sympathize but they are very common. Yet they cannot be relocated. And t seems the ones ones located near schools are the worst. The one in Ryde is infamous throughout Sydney.
That said I love listening to their calls, which are individual. It's not for nothing they are regarded as one of the world's premier songbirds for their musicality.
Some are just swooper's & others go for blood!-just get a HR monitor & enjoy the spike in BPM-I know I do!
@Brian, do you mean Galston/Berowra Waters gorges ride, as if so we may be referring to the same one! It's not worth getting to know it really; definitely will just save me a lot to go around it (luckily there's a back way). Darn these birds are annoying. And @hawkeye, agreed, those pests near primary schools are some threat to children that are innocently walking along.
They will stalk you but not swoop you if you are looking at them. If im on the road and know there is a maggie in the area I frequently turn to look directly at it until im out of its nesting area.
Magpies swoop because they like you and want to be friends, it is their version of "in your facebook" as they don't have laptops!
best defence is head down and arse up pedal hard.
Here's a vid I spied a year or 2 ago. The result isn't legal, but pretty convincing.
http://the-riotact.com/what-magpies-swoop/14792
Cheers
Simon
I was 'swooped' today, but wouldn't know if it wasn't for the 'clacking' noise the bird was making and the ruffle of feathers. I could see the beast's shadow above me but didn't change speed, look round or anything.
Meh.
Or was that just a budgie and not one of the terrifying Magpies everyone is on about?
It looks like that bird was taking it easy on you.
The one that bothers me the most used to smack into my helmet with enough force to make me think that someone had thrown a heavy stick at me. Now it has learnt not to go for helmets and attacks my ears and face and has drawn blood twice.
I agree with Hawkeye that it's ludicrous that they are protected. People wouldn't accept unprovoked violence from other people. Even worse is the danger that magpies cause if people try and avoid the attack.
It's just a bird...grow a pair people.
Yeah I'd usually agree @Logan until I got hit by the Gibbs Street Butcher!
It come from no where, hits with a fair whack, and is an expert in hitting the nose. I've had blood drawn on a few occasions.
OK so not as bad as falling off the bike although there is the concern that it'll miss the nose and get an eye.
A number of times, it doesnt really bother me that much. I wait for the bird to get close and then move my head back quickly as I think it's about to get close. Seems to do the trick.
you must have 360 degree vision Andy
They are noisey buggars and you can hear their attack call, then it's just a matter of time before they are on you. Quick look over the shoulder normally gives me a good indication of where it is. If you can't see it.... It's above you.