Was swooped twice this morning at a known magpie hotspot in St. Lucia, Brisbane, but the zipties on my helmet prevented it from making contact.
I have footage from the GoPro on my helmet, if there\'s somewhere I can post it.
September 27th, 2017 By Stuart V
Me and my kids love Aug/Sept time for riding our bikes because of the temperature.
We often can't because of magpies swooping. We are riding bikes and waving a stick is dangerous. I have read of kids getting run over because of this in their panic.
Also kids losing eye site from maggies. ...
September 25th, 2017 By ManVsMagpie
If you frequent an area where you get swooped take a handful of small dog or cat biscuits and scatter them as you go past. If the magpies recognise you as a food source you will not be treated as a threat. ...
September 8th, 2017 By The MagpieAlert Editor
Main Roads. Noisy, Bright and vehicles travelling at speed, probably not the best conditions for a bird or magpie, let alone a person to live. In my findings in cycling around suburban streets and main roads, I get swooped countless times within only 1 suburban block whereas I can ride kilometres on a main road and no swoops or even a trace of a bird in sight....
September 30th, 2016 By tman
Conventional wisdom went out the window on a day in September 2016.
If only male magpies attack and they are territorial you should only get attacked by one at a time. But on the corner of Takalvan Street / Walker Street in Bundaberg two went after me. ...
September 23rd, 2016 By Arayat
I've read many suggestions on how to protect a cyclist's head from swooping bird strikes like putting sunglasses on the back of the helmet to look like eyes and attaching electrical cable ties to the top of the helmet....
September 18th, 2016 By Tesa
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.
Does anybody have any experience on this?? ...
August 12th, 2016 By Andy Ryan McArdle
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. ...
September 22nd, 2015 By Steve Cycling
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....
September 17th, 2015 By mcl1552
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 !!! :-) ...
September 14th, 2015 By John Cumming
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. ...
September 14th, 2015 By Smeagol
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...
September 14th, 2015 By Margo
Has anyone had experience or heard of magpies being deterred from swooping by a flashing tail light on a helmet?
September 9th, 2015 By Brendan
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....
September 4th, 2015 By John Skillington
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. ...
September 2nd, 2015 By Gummy
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....
September 2nd, 2015 By David Manion
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
September 1st, 2015 By Jaime Buchanan
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
July 11th, 2015 By David Frugal
A short video on the study done by the National Injury Surveillance Unit of Flinders University
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.
October 12th, 2013 By Tooraj E.
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? ...
October 8th, 2013 By Jon Clark
Index
All Stories Safety Tips Reviews Other
Sign up!
Sign up to add your own stories and tips! It's FREE and it's easy, get started today!
Modal title
