Having been swooped many times while out cycling recently by this particularly vicious maggie, I decided to get some video footage in order to show people exactly how aggressive she is. ...

About a decade ago I witnessed a magpie in our street swooping kids on bikes heading to school.

I encouraged the folk in the homes near mine to feed the little peckers the occasional titbit....

As a 50's kid in Toowoomba, every September I was relentlessly pecked, knocked over and pinned down by protective maggies. Until by accident I found by holding a golf club well above my head, the cranky birds would not approach. Viola !!! :-) ...

Having to run the gauntlet of 2 magpies on my morning commute from Gladesville to North Ryde I was interested in a colleague's suggestion that I try attaching a wig to my helmet - something she had seen a guy do on YouTube. ...

So which SYDNEY Magpie will win this year?

Two categories - most swoops, and most injuries. I'm putting my money on the magpie near Percival Road Stanmore for most attacks...

Has anyone had experience or heard of magpies being deterred from swooping by a flashing tail light on a helmet?

After fifty odd years of cycling for both leisure and commuting I can say that cable ties only serve to make you look like a porcupine and do not prevent swooping, only contact. Beak snaps are still prevalent and dangerously distracting....

I've been feeding a few magpie families for over 12 months now - yes, I love them. I appreciate people are upset/scared/frustrated with attacking magpies - my theory is that they get territorial if they have a food source in the area - they think you want to steal their food. ...

I have lived on the Gold Coast for 40 yrs and have been attacked since I was 12 yrs old riding to school. Enough is Enough!

These birds are down right dangerous and unpredictable....

In the heart of downtown Caloundra QLD a daily battle rages. Residents of this sleepy little community find themselves the spectators of a twice daily struggle between good and evil as the local postman, who in my opinion deserves the Australia Post employee of the year award, fights to complete his deliveries. Others who dare to make the trip along the same stretch of road are mysteriously immune. The battle is his ... and his alone! Watch the YouTube video

After getting swooped by a magpie the first time I went back with my friend Glen holzl and got some better footage.

Filmed by David Frugal and Glen Holzl. Edited by Glen Holzl

Watch the YouTube video

A short video on the study done by the National Injury Surveillance Unit of Flinders University

http://youtu.be/9wHreVKgOT4

Note from Editor: Thanks Tooraj for your contribution. This short video has done the rounds a bit since it was published 4 years ago and shouldn't be copied at home. There have been many documented cases of cyclists and members of the public suffering injuries due to not wearing a lid.

Well did my cable tied helmet work? Having been attacked the previous week I'm not afraid to admit that I was a wee bit hesitant!

So ignoring the fact that I look like a bit of a numpty, will dressing like an echidna really work? ...

Not as drastic as the mohawk helmet on your home page, but I use 3 or 4 (depending on which helmet) 300mm cable ties on my helmet and I have not been hit by magpies since.

They will still swoop, but they don't actually hit my helmet or head - I sometimes see their shadow or hear a flutter, that's all :) ...

Any thoughts or knowledge around when swooping is worst??? As in time of day. I have read some articles saying they're a roosting bird so (in theory) would be asleep in the dark. \r\nDoes anybody have any experience on this?? ...