Trying to reason in the Magpie season

[eljimberino]

So let me get this right. Magpies shouldn't be culled, but I should be because I suggested it. Rrrrright. Gotcha buddy, are you ....seeing someone about this problem? Why don't you suggest that little gem to the parents of the boy killed as a result of the swooping magpie.

And your advice to ride faster is seriously flawed. In all the circumstances I can think of where I have been attacked it wasn't possible.

If you went out killing all the magpies on the grounds that they swoop people then yes, I would try to stop you.

If the parents of the boy were to suggest culling all magpies, then I would say they need to be culled, yes.

This attitude that humans are automatically more valuable than other animals is wrong in my opinion. If, in your opinion that is a problem, then please direct me to where the help lies.

 

[craig1985]

If anything I would try to avoid their areas as much as possible. They're a **** when they swoop, but once you get out of their area, it's not a problem.

 

[Guttercat]

Further up north, say Greenland and Svalbard, they have birds which attack you like the magpies. But they will never hit you. They change direction half a metre over your head. Instead they will vomit their fishy stomach contents all over you. Disgusting

Whaaaaat!!????

This thread just gets better and better.

Good thing Funnel Webs don't fly, eh?

 

[Polyarmour]

If you went out killing all the magpies on the grounds that they swoop people then yes, I would try to stop you.

If the parents of the boy were to suggest culling all magpies, then I would say they need to be culled, yes.

This attitude that humans are automatically more valuable than other animals is wrong in my opinion. If, in your opinion that is a problem, then please direct me to where the help lies.

Unfortunately what your mixed up post is saying is that animals are MORE important than humans. You have now twice promoted killing human beings for suggesting that a dangerous animal should be culled. Only a psycho would suggest such a thing.

And while you are threatening murder for encroaching on animal rights I just have to know (and be honest here)... do you eat animals?

 

[Guttercat]

I just have to know (and be honest here)... do you eat animals?

I just ate a sweet-grass fed, non-hormonized, non-antibioticked, humanely raised, and petted every day until it was humanely "put down"... cow... from a remote area in the world, that was written up by one one of the premier chefs in the world, for having the best tasting cows in the world. It was delicious.

Much tastier than Magpies, be they the Ausralian or N American variety Magpie.

 

[Polyarmour]

Magpies don't spare the pros either. Philippe Gilbert was attacked while riding the World's course.

"I was riding along the coastline on my own when an unidentifiable object brushed past me. I actually looked around and saw a large bird flying away," he said.

"Now I understand why cyclists here ride around with antennae on their helmets. But I do not intend to do that."

And so was Dave Zabriskie

"A bird flew into my helmet today while riding...they say it's some kind of mating thing...I must be in my prime..."

 

[M Sport]

Any chance the worlds in Geelong will be affected by magpies?

The TT's maybe. The road races will have too many riders and too many spectators for magpies to be a bother.

Some tips to beat the magpies;

Stay away from white or light coloured helmets during Sep/Oct.
Fake stick on eyes work best (only for those two months)
Keep a pump handy, and wave it like crazy if you get bombed.
Keep your eyes on the road.

 

[supercameron]

I'm at the stage where I am scared to leave my house. This one maggie seems to patrol about a 500m radius around my house. Some days i get 10m out the door and bam, he flies right into the side of my head. And when im cycling there are three ways i can approach my house, but he still seems to see me from every direction

 

[unsheath]

Magpies don't spare the pros either. Philippe Gilbert was attacked while riding the World's course.

"I was riding along the coastline on my own when an unidentifiable object brushed past me. I actually looked around and saw a large bird flying away," he said.

"Now I understand why cyclists here ride around with antennae on their helmets. But I do not intend to do that."

And so was Dave Zabriskie

"A bird flew into my helmet today while riding...they say it's some kind of mating thing...I must be in my prime..."

Good to hear Dave Z's still got his sense of humour.

 

[biokemguy]

what about Kookaburra's?

On my one visit to Australia, a kookaburra swiped a sandwich directly out of my wife's hand. We were sitting down eating lunch, so not moving.

Do they cause cyclists any problems?

Worst I've had in the US is pigeons miss timing they're retreat from me and flying into my head. No damage, but definitely a spike in the heart rate.

 

[Polyarmour]

On my one visit to Australia, a kookaburra swiped a sandwich directly out of my wife's hand. We were sitting down eating lunch, so not moving.

Do they cause cyclists any problems?

Worst I've had in the US is pigeons miss timing they're retreat from me and flying into my head. No damage, but definitely a spike in the heart rate.

I've never heard of any cyclist being attacked by a kookaburra. The situation you described with your wife I think is unusual, I've never heard of it happening before, normally you can't get that close to them. Sounds like the cheeky kookaburra was quite familiar with humans.

On another note I was hit by a magpie yesterday. I had the spiky helmut on and he got me on the shoulder instead.... which wasn't nearly as bad as being whacked on the helmut or neck or ears.

 

[elapid]

Sorry, but the people who say Magpies need to be culled, need to be culled themselves. Just ride faster and shut up.

The poor animals are terrified when they swoop. It's a paradox for them. They are scared of people. They are trying to protect their babies as any parent would. Some magpies dont swoop because they have never had the trauma of people throwing rocks at them or messing with their nests.

I have seen a magpie hold up traffic by putting its wings up after one of it's family was hit by a car. Was amazing.

So let me get this right. Magpies shouldn't be culled, but I should be because I suggested it. Rrrrright. Gotcha buddy, are you ....seeing someone about this problem? Why don't you suggest that little gem to the parents of the boy killed as a result of the swooping magpie.

And your advice to ride faster is seriously flawed. In all the circumstances I can think of where I have been attacked it wasn't possible.

If you went out killing all the magpies on the grounds that they swoop people then yes, I would try to stop you.

If the parents of the boy were to suggest culling all magpies, then I would say they need to be culled, yes.

This attitude that humans are automatically more valuable than other animals is wrong in my opinion. If, in your opinion that is a problem, then please direct me to where the help lies.

Unfortunately what your mixed up post is saying is that animals are MORE important than humans. You have now twice promoted killing human beings for suggesting that a dangerous animal should be culled. Only a psycho would suggest such a thing.

And while you are threatening murder for encroaching on animal rights I just have to know (and be honest here)... do you eat animals?

I have to agree with eljimberino in regards to being anti-culling of Magpies (not the culling of people who want to cull Magpies). Animals should not be culled because we cannot coexist with them. If we are supposedly of superior intelligence, then we should be able to come up with a more intelligent and responsible manner of dealing with the problem than resorting to killing. Supporting the cull of Magpies because they are naturally protecting their young from perceived or real threats is absurd. It is better to learn to live with them, avoid them if possible, and react appropriately if they do swoop.

 

[rgmerk]

They only attack lone riders

Magpies don't generally attack bunches, so if you're in a group you're generally pretty safe.

The cable tie thing seems to work pretty well.

Oh, and the other trick with them is that they pretty much always aim for the back of your helmet (hence the eyes thing). So if you can keep eyeballing them, they'll generally abort their attack.

 

[Polyarmour]

I have to agree with eljimberino in regards to being anti-culling of Magpies (not the culling of people who want to cull Magpies). Animals should not be culled because we cannot coexist with them. If we are supposedly of superior intelligence, then we should be able to come up with a more intelligent and responsible manner of dealing with the problem than resorting to killing. Supporting the cull of Magpies because they are naturally protecting their young from perceived or real threats is absurd. It is better to learn to live with them, avoid them if possible, and react appropriately if they do swoop.

Lovely motherhood statement, I hope your conscience is suitably assuaged.

"react appropriately if they do swoop".... um... ok Julia Gillard, I'll keep it in mind, that should be a great help.

 

[Guttercat]

This thread continues to deliver in funny.

A week or so ago I was riding up about 15 miles from home. Cruising down a hill I nearly plowed into two loose, enormous mules that came crashing out of the woods...followed shortly thereafter by a hungry mountain lion in pursuit.

Talk about a twilight zone experience.

 

[drb716]

I think there was a documentary on this a few decades ago. I just ran across some stills showing an actual attack as well as customary protective gear:

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[Polyarmour]

A week or so ago I was riding up about 15 miles from home. Cruising down a hill I nearly plowed into two loose, enormous mules that came crashing out of the woods...followed shortly thereafter by a hungry mountain lion in pursuit.

Talk about a twilight zone experience.

Well that's a reality check, I'd rather be attacked by a flock of magpies than face that one.

 

[2beeDammed]

Road to Halls Gap two Sundays ago and was under constant attack for over five hours !!! (it another brick in the wall Collingwood i tell you !!) The damage they did to the polystyrene under edge of my helmet was astounding. I could see them coming from far away across paddocks, homing in for the kill. Most of the time they are bluffing (just like Plovers aka- masked lapwings) you can deal with these as they are just a nuisance. But every so often you come across a particularly aggressive one. These are the ones that must die !!
At least this gave me something to ponder while I road from Dunkeld to Halls Gap and i came up with a couple of points.

1. They not such a problem in the bush/National Parks. Seems they favour towns and farmland. So if you wanted to avoid them you could avoid these areas.
2.Maybe it would be possible to mount razor blades on your helmet as they seem to body slam you, and they could only do that a few times or bleed to death only this solution would only be worth it if you rode the same way and were attacked by the same bird over and over. Doesn't make much sense if your not coming back any time soon.

 

[Polyarmour]

2.Maybe it would be possible to mount razor blades on your helmet as they seem to body slam you, and they could only do that a few times or bleed to death

That's a great idea. We need to go on the offensive with these pesky critters. I'm now thinking of a Taser helmut. A Laser Taser, I can see it now, should make a fortune.

 

[42x16ss]

Well, it's that time of the year again!

Sounds like the Sydney based ones are getting even angrier

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/a...gry-birds-take-their-toll-20110923-1kobr.html

 

[hughmoore]

Yep, that time again, unfortunately a boy in QLD may lose sight in one eye.

http://www.theage.com.au/queensland...-partly-blinded-boy-fails-20110922-1klwd.html

 

[Maxiton]

Kill the little *******s. Razor helmets, laser helmets, shotguns, poison . . . . kill 'em all, I say! It really should be a legal requirement for municipalities to control aggressive animals when they endanger human populations. I would suggest a campaign for legislation to that effect. In the meanwhile, if I'm ever in Oz in the Spring, and cycling, I'll be sure to take along some deadly force . . . .

 

[42x16ss]

Thought I'd drag up this gem since Euro riders are back here for the southern spring. Remco seems intimidated:

“A fairly large bird came very close and it just kept following me," Remco Evenepoel, a top favourite for Sunday's men's time trial, revealed on Friday of his latest training outing.

"It was terrifying. But that's Australia, apparently. I hope it's the only time it happens, but I am afraid of it."

Swoopy b@stards...

 

[kingjr]

Thought I'd drag up this gem since Euro riders are back here for the southern spring. Remco seems intimidated:

“A fairly large bird came very close and it just kept following me," Remco Evenepoel, a top favourite for Sunday's men's time trial, revealed on Friday of his latest training outing.

"It was terrifying. But that's Australia, apparently. I hope it's the only time it happens, but I am afraid of it."

Swoopy b@stards...

Was it an Emu scout?

 

[42x16ss]

Was it an Emu scout?

That would be funny