Magpies

[Mandy]

:mad:
Does anyone have any suggestions about stopping magpies swooping you? Where i ride for training during the week ( the only place near me to ride) it seems every turn has a magpie waitting to swoop you. Its becoming very hard to do any of my training when every 10 minutes im getting swooped!

I was wondering if maybe its the colour of my helmet (black and silver)????

:mad: :confused:

[TonyG]

:mad:
Does anyone have any suggestions about stopping magpies swooping you? Where i ride for training during the week ( the only place near me to ride) it seems every turn has a magpie waitting to swoop you. Its becoming very hard to do any of my training when every 10 minutes im getting swooped!

I was wondering if maybe its the colour of my helmet (black and silver)????

:mad: :confused:

I do Mandy, put an old pair of sunglasses on the back of your helmet and this should stop them swooping. They won’t swoop while you are looking at them, and the glasses give that impression. I noticed someone doing this at golf on Saturday and it worked.

[Wildchild]

Mate i know your exact problem, i use another route when going to school now just to prevent the magpies. They swoop you for 50m's sometimes which can be pretty scary....would suck if you were going uphill as well. :eek: So far all ive been told is to put stickers on the top of your helmet that look like eyes so they go for that instead of your real eyes. I found that usually when im wearing red they go for me this may be bacause they consider it a threat (so dont wear bright stuff)......the seasons beggning u aint seen nothing yet!!! :D

[Mandy]

Yeh i heard that worked too but just now being swooped id turn n look at the f**er and it just swooped me anyway. Thats why i think it was my helmet once i took it off to smack it with, it left me alone. Then i get back on my bike put the helmet on n the stupid thing was back :mad: :mad: :mad:

[G-Man]

Hey hows it going ..

i'm in the sutherland Shire and there are tons of the little
turkeys in my area but remenber - they are only doing what
comes natural to them ..

I have had luck with "Eyeball stickers" on the top/back of my helmet
placed as if i was looking back at them when i am looking forward ..

I tried blue ones , black ones , even pink ones as i was making
them myself on the computer but found that Chrome/silver outer with
a lime or fluro green eyeball seemd to keep em off ..

there is still the odd daredevil that gives me a scare ..

my Nan ( good oll Nan ) suggested it and it has worked ..

I think it works the same as the old icecream container theory , if the
birds think you are looking at them they are less likely to swoop ..

It has worked for me any way ..

give it a go ,, see how you go ,, hope this helps

Catch ya

G-man outy

[Mandy]

Oh great! I ride weekends at the national park/Loftus/Heathcoate in the shire are they gonna get me there too now!!!!! :(

[Dozer]

I get hit every morning by a real cranky sucker! I see it's shadow come behind me and crack! It doesn't bother me because it isn't really touching anything except for my helmet...which is also black and silver:confused: .
I used to wear an ice cream container on my head when I was little walking to the bus stop and I didn't get swooped......I wondered why people laughed at me, now I know why.:o

[Mandy]

Yeh they just go for my helmet to really, but i have a fear of birds so they worry me alot!!!! My bf has a pet galah and i run away if it comes near me! Magpies are alot bigger expecially when they are coming straight for you :(

[craigb]

ive been thinking maybe a couple of those small l.e.d bike lights mounted on my helmet might work. i have'nt tried it yet but im thinking the red flashing may put them off

[farkus]

i usually carry a saw off shot gun strapped to my bottom tube (loaded of course), just wait and see if that little sucker will swoop twice.

[cdfeto]

Mount a few pocket-fans on your helmet.

[shore_2]

I went for a ride in the royal the other day. Going past Heathcote oval is the most aggressive persistent magpie i have ever come accross, it gave me hell for about 150m and i couldn't outrun it no matter what.
If you want to test magpie theories it's the place to go.

[Balfa_Oli]

haha yes.
it's funny though when you ride past and you're filming and they swoop.
my friend was playing cricket with his brother a few years ago and he was wearing a silver bucket on his head when he batted.
the magpie swooped him because they like shiny things and the magpie got knocked out,

[Wildchild]

I went for a ride in the royal the other day. Going past Heathcote oval is the most aggressive persistent magpie i have ever come accross, it gave me hell for about 150m and i couldn't outrun it no matter what.
If you want to test magpie theories it's the place to go.

150m is really really really long....did it go from one telephone post to the other and just when you thought it had stopped it goes down again lol :D (experience)

[sikpuppyonglory]

fullface & googles, probably the only way to go, other than that, turn around & scream at the little f!!ker, i did that once, it stopped straight away, landed on the ground with a "what the f!!k just happened" look on it's face, & i nearly fell over pissin myself with laughter.:D

[Shrekmeister]

I went for a ride in the royal the other day. Going past Heathcote oval is the most aggressive persistent magpie i have ever come accross, it gave me hell for about 150m and i couldn't outrun it no matter what.
If you want to test magpie theories it's the place to go.

yup found him on saturday morning....will avoid that area for the time being.....

[Refreshinglygood]

Yeh i heard that worked too but just now being swooped id turn n look at the f**er and it just swooped me anyway. Thats why i think it was my helmet once i took it off to smack it with, it left me alone. Then i get back on my bike put the helmet on n the stupid thing was back :mad: :mad: :mad:

what colour is the helmet??

[Refreshinglygood]

ride faster!!!


I was out riding a few months ago, came across a maggie on the trail feeding, it took of, it was a few feet in front of me at sholder hight, I got closer to it, (trail was cannopied) and reached out and smacked it on the tail.

So the score is


Magpie 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,032

MTber's 1

[Da Extreme Free Rider]

this is kinda like the answer TonyG gave u, get stickers of eyes bout 2cm big and put em on ur helmet. becasue magpies do not attack wen your looking at them

[Customjimmy]

Yep, there's no way to stop 'em. The 'eyes on the top of your head' thing slows them up a bit and a silver/red IronHorse seems to turn them into evil little kamikazes. If you get to know them on a regular trip and they don't make contact then you can build up your confidence at least. Otherwise wait for a pedestrian. A wide brimmed hat wedged under a helmet can help as well. But I'm no expert - I got absolutely hammered last spring. Can't wait to see what happens on my fire engine red commuter this year!!

[Gekigengar]

lol become a back seat bandit again just like in highschool and get spit balls the pen covers and aim for them magpies!!!

[dr.evil]

Sorry about the amount of detail but I used to be a Ranger and had to contend with the public during 'magpie season'.

Magpies only swoop if they feel threatened and they usually feel threatened based on past experience. For example, if a kid on a bike threw rocks at it a few years ago it would want to swoop all people on bikes and probably ignore pedestrians. The magpies are partners for life and will always nest in the same spot each year. They are agressive around SEPT-OCT when they nest. They swoop until their young are fledglings (have feathers), so swooping would last for about 4 weeks. If a pair have young closer to the beginning of the nesting period they could have time for 2 sets of young (this means 8 weeks of swooping). Since they are in the same spot each year and some are more agressive (to certain people) than others take an alternative route while they are nesting. If you can't go another way you could try most of the options mentioned in previous posts - just becareful especially if you are near busy roads or riding with young kids (walking the bike would be safer). Just don't threaten or attack the magpie because it encourages or justifies their behaviour. It is also against the law to harm a native animal.

I have seen magpies attack rollerbladers ONLY (that was pretty funny), maggies attack postmen on their bikes only because a few posties had used a squash racquet to hit them previously and maggies attack builders in a housing development because a roofer was using nail gun on them.

An inconvenience for 4-8 weeks of the year isn't a big deal considering they are pretty cool the rest of the time.

[Gekigengar]

I have seen magpies attack rollerbladers ONLY (that was pretty funny), maggies attack postmen on their bikes only because a few posties had used a squash racquet to hit them previously and maggies attack builders in a housing development because a roofer was using nail gun on them.


hahahhaahhahahah
squash racquet!! ahahahah

ohh a nail gun would be nice.... but it would have to be a good aim.... and dont nail gun nowadays have that safty bit where it only works when it is on a surface?

[Leechie]

Yes Pain in the ass!

Anywho.. the other day dad thought he had a pretty good idea. Uno how some cars have those transmitters on the front that send out a high pitch noise that scare kangeroos away? Well yeah he thought it would be great if there was some kind of a microchip which ya put on ya helmet which sends out a pitch the scared the magpies away and something that we couldnt hear

Pretty jazzy but i carnt see it happening...

[Mandy]

Hey Dr Evil,
Where this bird first attacked me i was near a tree it continued swooping me for at least 300m down alley ways and everything the fuker wouldnt leave me alone! I even rode past a girl walking and it didnt bother with her by now i was so far from the original swoop its not funny n the f***r hadnt left! Thats why i think it was my helmet coz eventually i had the great idea if i hold my helmet in my hand ill just through it at it when it come bak but then he left me alone.

Someone told me that i should ring the council because birds that attack viciously like that after being reoprted a few times will be moved. Funny thing was in the street were it started there was 2 other birds attacking the magpie whenever it swooped me:mad:

I hate birds!!! Like seriously i have a phobia of birds even budgies scare me!!! Now im afraid to ride again i guess ill just train in the dark?? do they swoop early mornings or late nights?

[Shrekmeister]

Someone told me that i should ring the council because birds that attack viciously like that after being reoprted a few times will be moved. Funny thing was in the street were it started there was 2 other birds attacking the magpie whenever it swooped me:mad:

i guess ill just train in the dark?? do they swoop early mornings or late nights?

the one at the east heathcote sports field area should be taken out by the council, its near sports fields and poses a danger to childredn...:eek: :eek: and yes i have heard that the council will take action if they are considered to pose a threat....

training in the dark... :confused: :confused: watch out for dropbears....and the wallaby's that are half asleep :eek: :eek:

[Binaural]

Yes Pain in the ass!

Anywho.. the other day dad thought he had a pretty good idea. Uno how some cars have those transmitters on the front that send out a high pitch noise that scare kangeroos away? Well yeah he thought it would be great if there was some kind of a microchip which ya put on ya helmet which sends out a pitch the scared the magpies away and something that we couldnt hear

Pretty jazzy but i carnt see it happening...

Hey, those doohickeys can't even scare away the kangaroos. Their whole principle of operation is retarded :p

[WolfCreekPsycho]

You got a helmet on... whats the problem ?? Its not like it will hurt you ?

I had one go me the other day for about 100 metres...little clack clack clack on my lid, but thats all they will do.
Just keep riding and ignore it.

[dr.evil]

Someone told me that i should ring the council because birds that attack viciously like that after being reoprted a few times will be moved. Funny thing was in the street were it started there was 2 other birds attacking the magpie whenever it swooped me:mad:

Some councils take calls from the public and have methods of solving the problem. Some put up a sign warning people others shoot them. The option of moving them is a waste of time. Magpies know where they live. We took one over 50 kms away into the Wilderness (Namadgi NP) but it was back in town the next day. We shot a couple that were near primary schools because they swooped the kids during lunchtime. Most of the time we try and help people 'get over it'.

BTW we had a 'Magpie Hotline' and that rang of the hook each season. We always had the same birds reported. The funny thing is across the road was NSW and they had the same magpies but no hotline. And they had no complaints.

I hate birds!!! Like seriously i have a phobia of birds even budgies scare me!!! Now im afraid to ride again i guess ill just train in the dark?? do they swoop early mornings or late nights?

The swoop during the day because that is when they can see. Please don't stop riding because of one or two stupid birds. I would say I hate birds too but as I said the hassle only goes for 4-8 weeks and you seem to have worked out that it wasn't swooping when you had your helmet in your hand. Small inconvenience - keep riding.

[dr.evil]

...and dont nail gun nowadays have that safty bit where it only works when it is on a surface?

I did say I used to be a Ranger - but I didn't say how long ago

[pez]

I get swooped every spring, its the same couple at the top of the driveway. Dive dive dive, wack wack and they scream at you something like Pi^# OFF.
So i just keep my lid on.
Then, same day in my back yard there is the same couple teaching there baby how to run around the lawn and catch food.
They don't even look at me.
Cute!!

[cdfeto]

Just to let you know ... a magpie just SHAT in my kitchen. That sucker is going down !

Edit : Mag Pie, hahaha

[craigb]

You got a helmet on... whats the problem ?? Its not like it will hurt you ?

I had one go me the other day for about 100 metres...little clack clack clack on my lid, but thats all they will do.
Just keep riding and ignore it.

you wanna bet? the last time i got swooped i got hit in the side of the face nice big scratch and blood pissing everywhere. 2 cars stoped to help me but i had to keep going because the lil bastard would'nt stop going me. you obviously have NO IDEA

[Binaural]

Just to let you know ... a Mag Pie just SHAT in my kitchen. That sucker is going down !

Is "Mag pie" a Freudian slip? Keep the feet sticking up through the pastry for best effect, mmm mmm.

[Mandy]

:eek:
Way to scare me more!!!!!

Well i might ring the council tomoz just to report it its near a school where it started too so if its getting the kids too it might get relocated. I would be fine if it just did it while i was near its tree. The fact it followed me down serveral streets and laneways is what pisses me off. I didnt train today :o Im blaming the rain tho so my bf doesnt call me a wuss haha

[Uncle Toby]

Theres one near my house that swoops all the time. We make a game out of riding past it. I hate the damn thing though. My friend hit with an umbrella the other day, it just got angrier he said

[fleshbone]

why does it sound like the magpie is the one in the wrong,have you people ever thought it was you that was invading the magpie's.hehehe.if it's your route just scare em off with something eg,air rifle or just rocks.:) it is cruel though.(kill or be killed).haha:p

[arpit]

Theres one near my house that swoops all the time. We make a game out of riding past it. I hate the damn thing though. My friend hit with an umbrella the other day, it just got angrier he said

They're protecting their young. If someone who looked threatening came near your kids, and you tried to make them leave, and they hit you, would you just give up? :p

[WolfCreekPsycho]

you wanna bet? the last time i got swooped i got hit in the side of the face nice big scratch and blood pissing everywhere. 2 cars stoped to help me but i had to keep going because the lil bastard would'nt stop going me. you obviously have NO IDEA


Geez craig your a harsh little pr#ck .. I been swooped most years for the past 35, but apparently its rather obvious to all I have no idea, maybe im just lucky... maybe i'll just ignore you

Interesting to note the vast majority of magpie related injuries for cyclists is caused via the cyclist losing control and either falling off the bike, or colliding with something:
Age in years Description Primary Injury Body Part Level

12 Magpie swooped, fell off bike Fracture Radius or ulna
14 Riding bike home, collided with a tree after being swooped by magpie. Sprain or strain Ankle
10 Riding bicycle attacked by magpie fell hit ground Fracture Radius or ulna
35 Riding bike, magpie attacked & victim fell from bike. Fracture Upper extremity digit or phalanx
49 Riding a bicycle, swooped by a magpie, fell off bike down storm water drain. Sprain or strain Shoulder,
57 Riding push bike/attacked by magpie/fell off onto road Fracture Ankle
18 Riding bike and attacked by magpie Fracture Elbow
13 PBA - magpie swooped on him and he fell off his bike Concussion
11 Riding bicycle near st thomas church magpie swooped. Cut, laceration Face cheek forehead scalp
14 Riding a bike, magpie attacked and victim collided with a log. Haematoma or bruising Elbow
13 Riding bike home, magpie swooped and caused victim to fall to ground. Fracture Upper extremity digit or phalanx
33 Cycling to work magpie attacked from behind. Fell and hit ground. Bite Skull vault
17 Magpie attacked him fell off bike Fracture Clavicle
17 Fell off bike after magpie attacked him Fracture Clavicle
18 Magpie attacked fell from bike Haematoma or bruising Elbow
14 Riding pushbike/lost control of bicycle/attacked by magpie/hit gutter Superficial abrasion Chest
12 Riding a bike - magpie swooped at victims head - ducked and fell on road Fracture Radius or ulna
11 Riding bike, swooped by magpie. Cut, laceration Face cheek forehead scalp
26 Riding pushbike, swooped by magpie, fell off. Cut, laceration Knee
27 Rididng a bike, swooped by a magpie, fell over the handlebars. Fracture Clavicle
35 Riding a bike, attacked by a magpie, fell off. Fracture Upper extremity digit or phalanx
16 Magpie attacked cyclist, rode into telegraph pole Fracture Mouth external
34 Riding pushbike attacked by magpie lost control bike landed in gutter Dislocation Clavicle
29 Riding bike, trying to avoid magpies, fell off, landed on bike. Fracture Ribs
17 Riding bicycle and was swooped by a magpie, fell off bike wrong way. Fracture Ankle

[craigb]

i do'nt think i was harsh atall. ive also had them come from ground level straight at me head on. now what do i do when that happens? just ignore it? i think not. also just because your 35 years old it means jack shit (now you can call me a harsh little prick. im 26 zipadeedo) . ive told of my experience with a magpie that did get me and not on the helmet. if that makes me a bad person ill live with it. its human nature not to ignore magpie's attacking maybe thats why people crash. id love to know how many people on here just ignore them

[ovadahill]

A variation of the eye stickers on the back of the helmet is to stick on the teddy bear eyes from a craft shop - the ones that have the black centre that rolls around when you shake them.

[WolfCreekPsycho]

i do'nt think i was harsh atall. ive also had them come from ground level straight at me head on. now what do i do when that happens? just ignore it? i think not. also just because your 35 years old it means jack shit (now you can call me a harsh little prick. im 26 zipadeedo) . ive told of my experience with a magpie that did get me and not on the helmet. if that makes me a bad person ill live with it. its human nature not to ignore magpie's attacking maybe thats why people crash. id love to know how many people on here just ignore them

Thats funny .... :)

1 I know of who ignores them, that would be me, why cause you get used to it after so many years (hence the age ref)
There are 23 or so in that list that prolly wish they ignored them.. "Fractured clavicle".."Fracture Mouth external" ... "Fractured ribs" .. "Fractured Ankle" Geezus, you'd be better off just putting your head down and keep riding. These people are their own worst enemy.. and i didnt list the non cycling related injuries either.. people falling off horses, running into poles, falling over and breaking arms.

Why does no one have a video camera for these things? There is a task for the weekend. Any takers ?

[cooper_sgs]

:mad:
Does anyone have any suggestions about stopping magpies swooping you? Where i ride for training during the week ( the only place near me to ride) it seems every turn has a magpie waitting to swoop you. Its becoming very hard to do any of my training when every 10 minutes im getting swooped!

I was wondering if maybe its the colour of my helmet (black and silver)????

:mad: :confused:

I dont believe how you can think this is a problem :P you have an endless supply of magpies to hunt. but more seriously i had the same problem, it just seems to be seasonal (when they are nesting etc) It also scared the shit out of you, concentrating hard on what cumming up then sum big fark off animal shaves the top of your head off. Not that itl help wen riding but if u hold a stick up in the air they wont swoop. Also i dunt think they will swoop you from the front, try stickin eyes on the back of your head :p

[dr.matt]

wait til dusk, don a full face helmet, and eliminate the nest. :D now that works...
or start feeding them before the season starts, then one day give them something that isnt good for them.

bugger anyone who says 'its only for a few weeks' or 'ignore them' the eye thing doesnt work on all magpies either. most people in the 'pies defense probably dont ride a pushie during the season.
there are 2 near work, i thought there was only 1. so i rode past,i watching him- him watching me, just stting there i thought brill. till his mate came hurtling out of no where BOOM!

they are protected, so what. that only matters if you are caught :)

people are pretty quick to damn a dog who bites someone on the ankle on the street. why defend a black and white s*** that scratches little kids faces very close to eyes??

[THRILLHOUSE]

There is a completely savage Magpie down road. For my friend to ride around to my house, he has to pass this magpie.
One day he took a golf umbrella with him and just put that up thinking it would deter this magpie. WRONG! The magpie swooped him propelling itself straight at his umbrella, he got to my house and all the metal bits inside the umbrella were snapped. There is no god

[craigb]

wait til dusk, don a full face helmet, and eliminate the nest. :D now that works...
or start feeding them before the season starts, then one day give them something that isnt good for them.

bugger anyone who says 'its only for a few weeks' or 'ignore them' the eye thing doesnt work on all magpies either. most people in the 'pies defense probably dont ride a pushie during the season.
there are 2 near work, i thought there was only 1. so i rode past,i watching him- him watching me, just stting there i thought brill. till his mate came hurtling out of no where BOOM!

they are protected, so what. that only matters if you are caught :)

people are pretty quick to damn a dog who bites someone on the ankle on the street. why defend a black and white s*** that scratches little kids faces very close to eyes??


i like the way you think. if your from melb we should catch up and have a few beers and compare notes.

[dr.matt]

thanks for the offer, would take it up but im probably about 1400 km north of you. so ill grab a bourbon and go out the front here and swear and shake my fist at one instead. and, after a number of bourbons, replace the words 'swear and shake fist' with 'fire new broadhead arrows at 'pie and urinate off porch'. :o

the things i do when the wife is away.....

[d3zm0nd]

we live across the road from an oval and the maggies enjoy nesting in the trees there. anyway, one day me dad was mowing the lawn and one of the bastards swooped from his tree and hit me dad in the head, and drew blood!
they also sit on the lightposts and wait for you to walk under then... BANG!
magpie to the face.
anyway :rolleyes: i had an ice cream container AND a stick once and the mongrels wouldnt leave me alone.
they are one of nature's unstoppable forces

[dr.evil]

Its that time of year when the season is upon us. It is getting warmer and all the cyclists are coming out, getting in the way and bothering pedestrians and drivers. It is only a few weeks but - WHAT an inconvenience! When its dark we could let their tyres down, we could coax them out out onto the road reassuring we're giving way - then bang! they wouldn't know what hit them. We could peck their little eyes out...I know its illegal but if they are not looking...;)

Let us see if we are still talking about this in 6 weeks. Get over it and keep riding.

[dr.matt]

Let us see if we are still talking about this in 6 weeks. Get over it and keep riding.

do you ride to work?
i just hope whoever poisoned 6 of them here in tamworth last year (or the year before?) gets more this year. wait til their babies are on the ground...

[norco_maniac]

nearly every weekend i ride to warrandyte and get swooped by the same huge angry magpie in the same spot, i normally ride really slow on my dh bike but whe the magpie starts swooping, its like i never tire out, its the fastest ive ever riden on my bike i reckon!:p haha
but ive never ever been swooped by a magpie while im walking the dog, its a bike thing, or they are scared of dogs or something:confused:

[dr.matt]

maybe they dont like dogs.. interesting.
ive seen people near my work cross the road to go to the mail centre and they cop it.

i might try a experiment next week, ill occy strap my cattle dog to my back (her facing backwards) and see if the 'pies go me :D :D

[Legally Red]

hhhmmm maybe a shotgun would help.......:p

i think if you put red stuff on your helmet they
dont like red.

[2 smooth 4 u]

hhhmmm maybe a shotgun would help.......:p

i think if you put red stuff on your helmet they
dont like red.


haha yea red

i had a red helmet and i got it soo bad they wouls always get me and not friends.

[rabatt]

any one tried photographing them?

i did and got some interesting photos,

the only problem was it wouldent swoop when i was stoped so i had to ride and take photos at the same time, and i nearly ended up as roadkill.

so yeh my advice probly isnt helpfull, but i ride to work and pass about 4 bombers every morning, pull your head in so they cant get your ears and neck, and ignore them

[Mandy]

A magpie that swoops you once when your near its tree i would be fine with. But the ones that follow you and continue swooping (In my case through several streets and laneways) Those ones deserve to get hurt or the council should relocate them. My house is near a botanic gardens i wish the f***rs would just go there instead!! :mad:
I found walking my bike helped it stop. I have changed the track i ride so i dont go near that street anymore or any of the streets it got me in. Ill see if i can get a map of the area and show u just how far the thing followed me, it wouldnt of been protecting its nest!!

[thejackofspades]

lol sure you do;)

[PyletSnviper]

lol mandy i think it grew attached to u :P

get a full face... then u dont have to worry :D .. lol

[Big_Al]

They aim for the highest object so hold a stick above your head

The other bird i hate is that minor bird

I had one stuck in my inside locker area and it was stuck in there. When they get scared they SHIT everywhere. There was shit on my bag everywhere

[Red Goes Faster]

bloody magpies! footy team and the animals :p i once threw a basketball at one when it was swooping me, just seemed to piss it off and it got 1 of its friends to help swoop me, so i just shat myself and ran for my life with my school bag over my head :o moral of the story....dont piss them off!