Bloody Magpies

[Grunt]

No this isn't about that crappy footy team.

I am in training for the Great Victorian Bike Ride. (http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=5&b=142&c=128)

Each lunch time I do a quick 20k ride. Along the path that I sometimes ride along a bloody magpie keeps swooping me. They sh!!t me. Just like the footy team.

I'm going to get a set I've eyes to stick on the back of my helmet. I thought I only needed eyes in the back of my head when I was logged on to this BB.

[Zed]

go the magpie - hope he pecks your frikken eyes out!

[JDarvall]

Eyes on Helmet,,,,or carry a tennis racket. I killed one with a racket once when I was 10. Took me a good week to get over it.

[bitingmidge]

Eyes don't work.

Riding really really fast doesn't work.

Tennis racquet does work, but only till tomorrow when they seem to get even angrier.

You could try taking off your helmet, and WALKING your bike past the offending tree, but that only works if it's the sort of Maggie that only attacks people on bikes. I've got one of them, the only trouble is that I just get out of his territory and I get one that only attacks people on foot. :eek:

For some stats on the safest thing to be doing check out http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/pubs...s/magpies.html (Note that no injuries have been reported by people "working" on their computers, or in a workshop of any description. There is a lesson in there somewhere!

From about Now till the end of next month, I drive to the beach and go for a walk. .... .. . . I hate the little buggers at this time of year.

P (I hate swooping Magpies too!)

[Zed]

we have a pet magpie - feed it and it will stop swooping you.

I love my mr and mrs magpie - they come in and have a little feed and a sing and off they go, then they bring thier babies and show them off.... when I get home i'll take photo and post it.

[Termite]

Since our resident Maggie family moved in about 4 years ago we have had no Indian Mynahs in the area. And no Apricotrippers either.

[craigb]

Maggies are good. Way better than Currawongs.

Like somebody said, make friends with it.

[Zed]

heres mr magpie - the photo doesnt do him justice.

[rod1949]

Just before I was out for lunch sittin on a park wall, munching on a dogs eye. A Maggie came to within about a metre of me looking for a bit of tucker. I was amazed at how close it came.

[MajorPanic]

I run a team of 36 posties, we have about 450 YEARS of combined Magpie experience.

I gotta tell ya Grunt, eyes, different coloured helmet, it's all crap! They get used to changes within 24hrs. We have tried all sorts of weird stuff over the years - everything failed.

A few years ago UQ came out to our office to do a study. Sent a Doctor of something & he reckoned he new all about it. The last I saw or heard of him, he was in casualty having 6 stitches put in his cheek from one of our resident psycho magpies :eek: :eek: :eek:

Nothing works except a long stick or racket although a VERY WIDE brimmed hat helps some

[bitingmidge]

We have a couple of pet maggies too. They are soooo polite, they land at our front gate and WALK up the driveway about 15 metres or so to the pond, have a bit of a swim, then WALK back to the gate where they take off.

No matter how much they love us for 11 months of the year, one of them just can't abide cyclists at THAT time.

I read heaps of research last year trying to find a way round it, and curiously removal is the only solution (not the right one for us).

It seems that only a small percentage actually swoop, and of those some will attack anything, some attack cyclists only, some attack only pedestrians, and strangely (one for the Major) some seem to confine their attacks to Motorcycle mounted postmen!!

Just enjoy them when they are good!

cheers,

P

[kiwigeo]

we have a pet magpie - feed it and it will stop swooping you.

I love my mr and mrs magpie - they come in and have a little feed and a sing and off they go, then they bring thier babies and show them off.... when I get home i'll take photo and post it.

Got two regulars that came with the house...have never seen any babies though. They got as far as building a nest one year but nothing eventuated. Theyre great to have around...except when the female parks herself outside the back sliders at 6.30am and sings untill someone brings her some food. Maggies definitely have US trained.

[Grunt]

I think it goes to show that the magpies are bloody annoying. Isn't that right Gumby?

[ozwinner]

My BIL used to do a lot of jogging, any whooo this maggie use to swoop him all the time.
Sooo one day he took along Mr 12 Gauge for a jog, guess what................
Boom..................
No more Mr Maggie.


Al

[kiwigeo]

My BIL used to do a lot of jogging, any whooo this maggie use to swoop him all the time.
Sooo one day he took along Mr 12 Gauge for a jog, guess what................
Boom..................
No more Mr Maggie.


Al

Al,

I wouldnt try going jogging carrying a shottie with Mr Howard's new anti terroism measures in place. The shottie and the foilie will definitely attract attention.