There was a fair breeze blowing this morning as I made my way to work. It gave me an extra work out on the bike.
It also made conditions trickier for a magpie that I’ve encountered a few times in recent weeks. I’ve never actually seen this magpie but I’ve heard it tap the top of my helmet when I’ve gone past a particular area on Willeri Drive in Willeton.
It mustn’t have taken the wind into account today because that tap was backed up by a fair bit of force. I heard it and felt it today. Magpies provide a very good argument for the wearing of bicycle helmets.
If you’re new to the idea of swooping magpies, it’s what these birds do to supposedly protect their nests during the breeding season. They will sit high in their tree until they see you and then they’ll fly towards you at a rapid pace. They use their sharp beaks to do whatever damage they can as they swoop at you as many times as they can until you leave the area.
This particular magpie is rather cunning in that he only attacks from behind. He’s a stealth magpie.
At least maggie season should be over soon.
I know that birds need to protect their nests and their young. I’m very protective of my family too. I just wish the magpies would understand that cycling past at 35 kilometres an hour does not mean that I’m about to stop, get off my bike, climb their tree and harm their family.
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I’ve heard about these magpies…they sound very aggressive this time of year!
Be careful!
Obviously I never met Magpies in breeding season – I enjoyed their playful company throughout our journeys, how they inspected or rather examined our car, the chairs and all we had outside…
Uh, but I´m warned – yay for helmets!
There is some debate about whether or not helmets really help when dealing specifically with magpies. Some argue that the magpies seem to be attracted by the helmet itself, or that a cyclist’s ears can become the target (as has happened to me on occasions). Others argue that tying some zip-ties to the helmet can ward them off.
The magpie season here in Queensland is just about over now, having started in July. I find the butcher birds who try to impersonate magpies to be far scarier. They tend to be a bit less precise, I’ve taken them in the face on occasions.
Oddly, I didn’t have any issues with mapgies when I was in WA in September, but the weather might have had something to do with that. I think I must be the first person in history to get snow in that part of the world.
A friend pointed out this video recently. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9wHreVKgOT4
While it only focuses on one magpie, it does add some interest to the debate.