dealing with magpies

[ross_w]

This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
season.

My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.

Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
there.

Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
escape.

Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
point apparently. Do any of these work?

Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
be back, and I want to be ready for them...

Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

[[email protected]]

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:35:23 -0700 (PDT), ross_w >
wrote:

>This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
>are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
>season.
>
>My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
>tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
>this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
>to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>
>Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
>there.
>
>Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
>escape.
>
>Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
>of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
>visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
>point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
>Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
>be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
>Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
>or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

Dear Ross,

Yes, a feather or two sticking up from a helmet and eyes painted on
the back are common defenses.

You could also try to think of another route for your return.

Or hope that the birds don't show up this year.

This wiki entry mentions two other solutions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Magpie#Swooping

The hand-feeding approach would be more fun than getting them declared
a nuisance and relocated or destroyed.

But if the birds are attacking bicyclists, then someone's going to end
up hurt, either from a beak in the eye or a crash.

A beak or claw with a half-pound of angry bird behind it can do a lot
of damage if you turn your head to see what's coming. Show the local
authorities the dents in your helmet and remind them that you were
riding a bike at the time.

Before West Nile fever wiped them out along the Arkansas River, the
magpies around here could be a bit territorial. A pair nesting in my
backyard killed garter snakes on the walk and harried the basset
hound, neither of which were any threat to the nest.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

[Tom Sherman[_2_]]

Ross Wonderley wrote:
> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
> are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
> season.
>
> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
> tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
> this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
> to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>
> Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
> there.
>
> Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
> escape.
>
> Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
> of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
> visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
> point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
> Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
> be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
> Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
> or injury of the birds are probably not legal.
>
Get a new pet to accompany you on your rides:
<http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/1/peregrine-falcon_6175.jpg>.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

[20cents]

In article
>,
ross_w > wrote:

> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
> are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
> season.
>
> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
> tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
> this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
> to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>
> Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
> there.
>
> Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
> escape.
>
> Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
> of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
> visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
> point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
> Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
> be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
> Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
> or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

Ross,

I know the problem well. I only travel that route once a week in nesting
season.

My doubts about eyes on the helmet and cable ties is that they are
static and magpies are smarter than that.

I have thought about moving deterrents such as streamers or one of those
plastic windmills on a stick that you see at sideshows. The drawback
with either strategy is that it instantly classifies you as a dork. Is
the solution worth the social disgrace?

You need to be able to protect your neck as well as your helmet - not
that it does much damage to your helmet but a swooping magpie is one of
those experiences you are happy to have just once in life.

At least your speed increases as the adrenalin kicks in.

What about a strobe light from a chandler (Whitworths in Sydney is good)?

Let us know if you hit on the 100% solution.

regards,
Darryl

[datakoll]

bad karma?
where's your status amung animals ? positive?
try feeding the magpie.
can you whistle? whistle a tune on your approach. something cheerful.
christmas tune does it. do aussies whistle "jingle bells"? a favoirte
here at consumerville.
what does a magpie sound like? whistle magpie and JB
change your smell and helmet color when you start whistling and
feeding the birds.

[[email protected]]

On Apr 8, 1:21 pm, datakoll > wrote:
> bad karma?
> where's your status amung animals ? positive?
> try feeding the magpie.
> can you whistle? whistle a tune on your approach. something cheerful.
> christmas tune does it. do aussies whistle "jingle bells"? a favoirte
> here at consumerville.
> what does a magpie sound like? whistle magpie and JB
> change your smell and helmet color when you start whistling and
> feeding the birds.

I surmise you've never been the target of an angry magpie.

10 months of the year, they're wonderful birds. Smart, not too shabby
looking, inquisitive and often humerous.

I've got a whole family singing and carrolling outside my window at
work right now... very pleasant sound. Come nesting season though, the
only thing you'll hear is the 'clack' as the little blighter just
misses your head.

More aggressive ones have been known to attack the eyes.. even when
wearing helmets.
Look at some of the warnings on
http://www.bq.org.au/cycle-info/hazards.shtml

[[email protected]]

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 22:10:20 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>On Apr 8, 1:21 pm, datakoll > wrote:
>> bad karma?
>> where's your status amung animals ? positive?
>> try feeding the magpie.
>> can you whistle? whistle a tune on your approach. something cheerful.
>> christmas tune does it. do aussies whistle "jingle bells"? a favoirte
>> here at consumerville.
>> what does a magpie sound like? whistle magpie and JB
>> change your smell and helmet color when you start whistling and
>> feeding the birds.
>
>I surmise you've never been the target of an angry magpie.
>
>10 months of the year, they're wonderful birds. Smart, not too shabby
>looking, inquisitive and often humerous.
>
>I've got a whole family singing and carrolling outside my window at
>work right now... very pleasant sound. Come nesting season though, the
>only thing you'll hear is the 'clack' as the little blighter just
>misses your head.
>
>More aggressive ones have been known to attack the eyes.. even when
>wearing helmets.
>Look at some of the warnings on
>http://www.bq.org.au/cycle-info/hazards.shtml

Dear Duncan,

Thanks for the wonderful illustration of regional variation, one of my
favorite topics.

Magpies in the USA occasionally harry smaller animals near their
nests, but they scarcely ever bother people.

Your fierce Australian magpies have their own warning web-page, with
that Google map marking the most dangerous places!

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

[John Henderson]

datakoll wrote:

> what does a magpie sound like?

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/gymnorhina-tibicen.mp3
http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/magpie-group.mp3
http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/magpie.mp3

John

[datakoll]

On Apr 8, 1:10*am, wrote:
> On Apr 8, 1:21 pm, datakoll > wrote:
>
> > bad karma?
> > where's your status amung animals ? positive?
> > try feeding the magpie.
> > can you whistle? whistle a tune on your approach. something cheerful.
> > christmas tune does it. do aussies whistle "jingle bells"? a favoirte
> > here at consumerville.
> > what does a magpie sound like? whistle magpie and JB
> > change your smell and helmet color when you start whistling and
> > feeding the birds.
>
> I surmise you've never been the target of an angry magpie.
>
> 10 months of the year, they're wonderful birds. Smart, not too shabby
> looking, inquisitive and often humerous.
>
> I've got a whole family singing and carrolling outside my window at
> work right now... very pleasant sound. Come nesting season though, the
> only thing you'll hear is the 'clack' as the little blighter just
> misses your head.
>
> More aggressive ones have been known to attack the eyes.. even when
> wearing helmets.
> Look at some of the warnings onhttp://www.bq.org.au/cycle-info/hazards.shtml

you surmise I've never been targeted by angry magpies
this is correct
my suggestion was developing a positive relationship with the colony,
and all other animals so mapgies woud have an alternative to anger
analagous to the Tibetan problem where no one was angry at the monks
for their brutal repressive regime but anger at the Chinese for
liberating the country is extensive.
basic problem is there's too much anger
the monks overlooked that?
reports are boat tail grackles attack during mating season. I peacably
interact with BTG, never experiecing AG directed at me. But on other
birds? I watched the complete crew of 20-30 gather chasing a bird hawk
out of the meadows and out above Estero Bay or a friend BTG circleing/
darting/rasping whistling our local resident red shoulder hawk sitting
atop an Al light pole.
not to cast dispersions but you probably have a negative attitude
suitable for WW1 trench warfare

[Michael Press]

In article
>,
ross_w > wrote:

> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
> are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
> season.
>
> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
> tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
> this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
> to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>
> Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
> there.
>
> Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
> escape.
>
> Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
> of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
> visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
> point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
> Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
> be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
> Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
> or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

Stop and make friends? Magpies are smart.
I would try stopping and talking.
(squash racket for back up)

Also get a magpie bird call and try it out.

The crows around here can sometimes get on toot.
Some crow will take a seat and start yakking for
an hour or two. One day I remembered the crow
call given to me (along with some other quality
whistles at Christmas.) I cracked the window and
from behind a curtain started calling back. The
crow got puzzled, angry, nervous, then took off.
The crows do not hang near my house anymore.

I get buzzed by hummingbirds.

--
Michael Press

[John Henderson]

ross_w wrote:

> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless
> there are other countries with birds that get aggressive
> during nesting season.
>
> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie
> nesting tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every
> time I went past this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet
> to show for it. they tend to fly up and attack from behind
> your head with their beaks.
>
> Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice
> I'm there.
>
> Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more
> difficult to escape.
>
> Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I
> have heard of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet
> and using a visibility pennant higher than your head (they
> attack they highest point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
> Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over
> they'll be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
> Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving
> the death or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

Cable ties protruding from the helmet seem to work. Make sure
that they are protecting your ears as well, and wear glasses.

If you've got the time, stop and look at the offending bird.
Unlike many other birds, a magpie will never swoop while you're
watching it (the theory behind the extra set of eyes glued to
the helmet - but they learn fast).

Sometimes staring at them for long enough seems to disuade them
from swooping when you set off again.

They don't seem to realize that pedestrians and cyclists are the
same species. Many will attack one but not the other, bringing
into question the effectiveness of making friends by feeding
them.

John

[ross_w]

On Apr 8, 4:37 pm, John Henderson > wrote:
> ross_w wrote:
> > This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless
> > there are other countries with birds that get aggressive
> > during nesting season.
>
> > My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie
> > nesting tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every
> > time I went past this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet
> > to show for it. they tend to fly up and attack from behind
> > your head with their beaks.
>
> > Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice
> > I'm there.
>
> > Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more
> > difficult to escape.
>
> > Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I
> > have heard of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet
> > and using a visibility pennant higher than your head (they
> > attack they highest point apparently. Do any of these work?
>
> > Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over
> > they'll be back, and I want to be ready for them...
>
> > Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving
> > the death or injury of the birds are probably not legal.
>
> Cable ties protruding from the helmet seem to work. Make sure
> that they are protecting your ears as well, and wear glasses.
>
> If you've got the time, stop and look at the offending bird.
> Unlike many other birds, a magpie will never swoop while you're
> watching it (the theory behind the extra set of eyes glued to
> the helmet - but they learn fast).
>
> Sometimes staring at them for long enough seems to disuade them
> from swooping when you set off again.
>
> They don't seem to realize that pedestrians and cyclists are the
> same species. Many will attack one but not the other, bringing
> into question the effectiveness of making friends by feeding
> them.
>
> John

I have seen this too. There are a pair of magpies that nest in the
main st of Maitland. The council pruned the trees in spring last year
and left this one branch that had magpies nesting in it. I bet they
were surprised to have their hidden home exposed for all the world to
see...

Anyway these magpies have hundreds of people walking past in the mall
below every day and don't respond at all. Ride past on a bike
though...

So the council don't need rangers in the springtime to enforce their
"no bikes in high st mall" rule, the magpies do it for them.

I think it comes down to the familiar vs the unfamiliar. My parents
had a pair of magpies nesting in the big ironbark in their backyard.
She would feed them occasionally and they never touched us or anyone
emerging from the house. Kids walking past on the path outside the
fence were fair game.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I will take a small bag of mince
with me now and then and hopefully come September the magpies will
know me well enough to leave me alone. If not, I'll try some of the
other suggestions.

[Mike]

In article >, says...
> datakoll wrote:
>
> > what does a magpie sound like?
>
> http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/gymnorhina-tibicen.mp3
> http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/magpie-group.mp3
> http://www.anbg.gov.au/sounds/magpie.mp3
>
or...

"and Quardle ardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said"

.... as Dennis Glover wrote.

Mike

[datakoll]

'Magpies are omnivores and eat most anything. So soaked cat/dog chow,
hard boiled eggs, fruit and insects would provide a decent diet in the
meantime.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvidae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_gazza_ladra
I'm pleased the magpie is in the jay family. I have a group of jay
friends in the backyard calling for peanuts. Jays call, I crack
several peanuts, wet and put out on the feeder. Jays are intelligent
and conversational in sign/body language like crows. Crows are the
bird equivalent of an MLB 3B coach.
Today for the first time, I heard the jays talking to each other.
Feed the magpie, develop a positive attitude. Magpie are described as
commensurate. That attitude is what cycling should cycle thru, a mesh
with the environment.

[ross_w]

On Apr 9, 10:11 am, datakoll > wrote:
> 'Magpies are omnivores and eat most anything. So soaked cat/dog chow,
> hard boiled eggs, fruit and insects would provide a decent diet in the
> meantime.'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvidaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_gazza_ladra
> I'm pleased the magpie is in the jay family. I have a group of jay
> friends in the backyard calling for peanuts. Jays call, I crack
> several peanuts, wet and put out on the feeder. Jays are intelligent
> and conversational in sign/body language like crows. Crows are the
> bird equivalent of an MLB 3B coach.
> Today for the first time, I heard the jays talking to each other.
> Feed the magpie, develop a positive attitude. Magpie are described as
> commensurate. That attitude is what cycling should cycle thru, a mesh
> with the environment.

Dropping some mince for these ones as I ride past may be a good
strategy. The plan is to start now, and hopefully by the time nesting
season starts they will not regard me as a threat, which appears to be
in line with what you are suggesting.

Just a point though, you are referring to a different magpie. The
Australian one is Artamidae not Corvidae. Artamidae includes
butcherbirds, Australian magpies and currawongs. The Australian Magpie
looks similar to the European one, and that's how it got its name.
They are also well known for being aggressive during the nesting
season, bearing in mind they are only protecting their families the
best way they know how.

Now the three rottweilers that have been seen loose near the same
location in Aberglasslyn Rd... Well it's the contents of the water
bottle in the face for them! (and pedal faster) followed by a chat
with the owner.

[ross_w]

On Apr 9, 10:11 am, datakoll > wrote:
> 'Magpies are omnivores and eat most anything. So soaked cat/dog chow,
> hard boiled eggs, fruit and insects would provide a decent diet in the
> meantime.'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvidaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_gazza_ladra
> I'm pleased the magpie is in the jay family. I have a group of jay
> friends in the backyard calling for peanuts. Jays call, I crack
> several peanuts, wet and put out on the feeder. Jays are intelligent
> and conversational in sign/body language like crows. Crows are the
> bird equivalent of an MLB 3B coach.
> Today for the first time, I heard the jays talking to each other.
> Feed the magpie, develop a positive attitude. Magpie are described as
> commensurate. That attitude is what cycling should cycle thru, a mesh
> with the environment.

Dropping some mince for these ones as I ride past may be a good
strategy. The plan is to start now, and hopefully by the time nesting
season starts they will not regard me as a threat, which appears to be
in line with what you are suggesting.

Just a point though, you are referring to a different magpie. The
Australian one is Artamidae not Corvidae. Artamidae includes
butcherbirds, Australian magpies and currawongs. The Australian Magpie
looks similar to the European one, and that's how it got its name.
They are also well known for being aggressive during the nesting
season, bearing in mind they are only protecting their families the
best way they know how.

Now the three rottweilers that have been seen loose near the same
location in Aberglasslyn Rd... Well it's the contents of the water
bottle in the face for them! (and pedal faster) followed by a chat
with the owner.

[datakoll]

AMAZING INTERNET Google Earth gives a view of your town/road and

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/838467C25F04F89BCA256C2100166A833882F6D25A5CBF6CCA 256C290005F61B

try pepper spray on the Rotts

[Donga]

On Apr 8, 1:21 pm, datakoll > wrote:
> bad karma?
> where's your status amung animals ? positive?
> try feeding the magpie.
> can you whistle? whistle a tune on your approach. something cheerful.
> christmas tune does it. do aussies whistle "jingle bells"? a favoirte
> here at consumerville.
> what does a magpie sound like? whistle magpie and JB
> change your smell and helmet color when you start whistling and
> feeding the birds.

Alternatively, stop, look around for animal liberationists, draw a
slingshot from your pocket (sustainably built from an old tube), pick
up a handful of pebbles, stalk the f*cker and when it stops, nail it
up the jacksy. Repeat. "You may take the slingshot from my cold, dead
hand".

Unfortunately, DK, the psychological/genetic/whatever damage is
already done on these rogue birds. The worst need to be removed.

Donga

[ross_w]

On Apr 9, 11:41 am, datakoll > wrote:
> AMAZING INTERNET Google Earth gives a view of your town/road and
>
> http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/838467C25F04F89BCA2...
>
> try pepper spray on the Rotts

This is the exact spot
http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-32.714141,151.537567&spn=0.004098,0.008444&t=h&z=17&msid=103058890636466926611.00044a6ac671661002c5e

[John Henderson]

Mike Elliott wrote:

> Gracious me -- I've never been attacked by birds before,
> walking or riding (I live in SoCal). I imagine it could be
> quite alarming if unexpected! Is that the main issue, the
> surprise and pest factor? No actual damage done to one's body?

While it's very unusual, and mostly limited to the very young or
very old, people have suffered significant damage to eyes in
attacks by Australian magpies. They approach silently from
behind, and it's reasonably common for them to draw blood from
scalp or ears unless fended off.

Only certain magpies attack humans (maybe 10% to pluck a figure
out of thin air) during nesting season, and cyclists seem more
likely to be attacked than pedestrians.

I believe I've seen magpie parents instructing near-fully-grown
young which targets to attack. On the other hand, magpies
which are fed by people also tend to "introduce" their young to
these human friends in a very close and trusting manner.

John

[John Henderson]

Mike Elliott wrote:

> Well I'll be hornswoggled. But a cyclist with a helmet -- more
> alarming than dangerous,* or no?
>
> * Of course a sudden rat-a-tat on my helmet might cause me to
> perform random steering and braking actions and cause injury,
> I reckon!

Absolutely right. But it's usually the repeated sound of a beak
snapping shut and/or an impact onto the helmet.

John

[[email protected]]

On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:40:15 -0700, Mike Elliott
> wrote:

>
>> ross_w > wrote:
>>
>>> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
>>> are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
>>> season.
>>>
>>> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
>>> tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
>>> this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
>>> to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>>>
>
>Gracious me -- I've never been attacked by birds before, walking or
>riding (I live in SoCal). I imagine it could be quite alarming if
>unexpected! Is that the main issue, the surprise and pest factor? No
>actual damage done to one's body?

Dear Mike,

Bird attacks on people are less common in the US, but they do occur in
certain poorly run ballparks:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sphawk0404,0,5191122.story

Red-tail, Red Sox, victim named A. Rodriguez, hard not to see an
anti-Yankee conspiracy.

Non-humans suffer much more often.

Red-tail red racer:
http://i18.tinypic.com/66jacmp.jpg

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

[datakoll]

I'll call Mrs. Daniels see if she knows anything about this. &*&&^%!!!
the gatorade bottle POPPED *&&&%%rCC

[ross_w]

On Apr 10, 6:20 am, wrote:
> On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:40:15 -0700, Mike Elliott
>
>
>
> > wrote:
>
> >> ross_w > wrote:
>
> >>> This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
> >>> are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
> >>> season.
>
> >>> My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
> >>> tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
> >>> this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
> >>> to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.
>
> >Gracious me -- I've never been attacked by birds before, walking or
> >riding (I live in SoCal). I imagine it could be quite alarming if
> >unexpected! Is that the main issue, the surprise and pest factor? No
> >actual damage done to one's body?
>
> Dear Mike,
>
> Bird attacks on people are less common in the US, but they do occur in
> certain poorly run ballparks:
> http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sphawk0404,0,5191122.story
>
> Red-tail, Red Sox, victim named A. Rodriguez, hard not to see an
> anti-Yankee conspiracy.
>
> Non-humans suffer much more often.
>
> Red-tail red racer:
> http://i18.tinypic.com/66jacmp.jpg
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel

Interesting that such an attack is newsworthy.

Here they don't rate a mention individually, although TV news and
papers often run general stories about the issue in the spring. They
respond to press releases from the National Parks & Wildlife Service
to remind people, particularly children, to be careful where magpies
might be nesting.

[ross_w]

On Apr 10, 6:28 am, Mike Elliott > wrote:
> On 4/9/2008 1:16 PM John Henderson wrote:
>
> > Mike Elliott wrote:
>
> >> Well I'll be hornswoggled. But a cyclist with a helmet -- more
> >> alarming than dangerous,* or no?
>
> >> * Of course a sudden rat-a-tat on my helmet might cause me to
> >> perform random steering and braking actions and cause injury,
> >> I reckon!
>
> > Absolutely right. But it's usually the repeated sound of a beak
> > snapping shut and/or an impact onto the helmet.
>
> Well then -- I'd drive a bunch of 12-penny through the helmet from the
> inside and make it all spiky outside. One could add a black helmet, some
> leather, and studs to complete the look.
>
> Like the suggestion to use wireties, but with attitude.
>
> --
> Mike RJS

....except that wire ties won't penetrate the skull on impact with a
hard surface. (your skull, not the magpie's)

[datakoll]

the wave breaks
on distant
shores

[Tom Sherman[_2_]]

datakoll aka gene daniels wrote:
> the wave breaks
> on distant
> shores

TSUNAMI!!!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

[Tom Sherman[_2_]]

ross_w wrote:
> On Apr 10, 6:20 am, wrote:
>> [...]
>> Bird attacks on people are less common in the US, but they do occur in
>> certain poorly run ballparks:
>> http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sphawk0404,0,5191122.story
>>
>> Red-tail, Red Sox, victim named A. Rodriguez, hard not to see an
>> anti-Yankee conspiracy.
>> [...]
>
> Interesting that such an attack is newsworthy.
>
You have to have some knowledge of Major League Baseball to understand.
If the name of the hawk attack victim was not almost exactly the same
(one extra letter) as that of arguably the best player on the Red Sox's
most hated rival (New York Yankees), it would not have been nearly so
newsworthy.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

[20cents]

In article >,
wrote:

> Your fierce Australian magpies have their own warning web-page, with
> that Google map marking the most dangerous places!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel


Carl,

Such a map would be covered with virtual pins. Every nesting magpie pair
is a potential attacker. They usually nest high in a tall tree. The
first idea you have that there is one around is the snap of its beak as
it tries to bite your neck or ear or helmet. That is the first of up to
half a dozen swoops before you have been dispatched from its domain.

Strangely, there is a family of magpies that live close by to me in the
suburbs of Sydney who have formed an urban 'gang'. They live on one
corner and a gang of currawongs (similar size and also black & white but
totally different call) lives on the opposite corner. Both gangs engage
in a singing slanging match at dusk each evening and take out their
aggression on each other. I have never seen any of these magpies act
aggressively to humans.

cheers,
Darryl

[Michael Press]

In article >,
John Henderson > wrote:

> Mike Elliott wrote:
>
> > Gracious me -- I've never been attacked by birds before,
> > walking or riding (I live in SoCal). I imagine it could be
> > quite alarming if unexpected! Is that the main issue, the
> > surprise and pest factor? No actual damage done to one's body?
>
> While it's very unusual, and mostly limited to the very young or
> very old, people have suffered significant damage to eyes in
> attacks by Australian magpies. They approach silently from
> behind, and it's reasonably common for them to draw blood from
> scalp or ears unless fended off.
>
> Only certain magpies attack humans (maybe 10% to pluck a figure
> out of thin air) during nesting season, and cyclists seem more
> likely to be attacked than pedestrians.
>
> I believe I've seen magpie parents instructing near-fully-grown
> young which targets to attack. On the other hand, magpies
> which are fed by people also tend to "introduce" their young to
> these human friends in a very close and trusting manner.

Extortion.

--
Michael Press

[datakoll]

yesterday I set out on a 15 mile loop, first leg over the 8 mile
casueway with a 10 backwind. I stopped to set thewe GPS at the first
urn, pedaled out and a bee smot me smack on muh forehead.
then on the last leg, rode the front sidewall into a roofing nail:
first flat in 18 months.

[Stephen Greenwood]

On Apr 7, 11:20*pm, wrote:

> Thanks for the wonderful illustration of regional variation, one of my
> favorite topics.
>
> Magpies in the USA occasionally harry smaller animals near their
> nests, but they scarcely ever bother people.

I found the regional variation interesting as well. Here in Northern
Colorado, the black-billed magpie is fairly common. I ride daily and
year-round, often sighting them along the creek near my house. I've
never seen any sign of aggressiveness. It's nesting season now in the
northern hemisphere, and this very morning I passed about 1 meter from
one that was perched on a fence. Not even a flinch, let alone a beak-
clacking swoop. Same story for the yellow-billed variety I used to see
in the hills east of San Jose.

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:23:28 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Greenwood
> wrote:

>On Apr 7, 11:20*pm, wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the wonderful illustration of regional variation, one of my
>> favorite topics.
>>
>> Magpies in the USA occasionally harry smaller animals near their
>> nests, but they scarcely ever bother people.
>
>I found the regional variation interesting as well. Here in Northern
>Colorado, the black-billed magpie is fairly common. I ride daily and
>year-round, often sighting them along the creek near my house. I've
>never seen any sign of aggressiveness. It's nesting season now in the
>northern hemisphere, and this very morning I passed about 1 meter from
>one that was perched on a fence. Not even a flinch, let alone a beak-
>clacking swoop. Same story for the yellow-billed variety I used to see
>in the hills east of San Jose.

Dear Stephen,

As one of the Australian posters points out elsewhere in this thread,
the two "magpies" are from different families, with our magpies being
gentler.

I've been told of US magpies swooping at gardeners during nesting
season and startling them.

But I've never seen magpies bother people, just basset hounds and
garter snakes. The birds swooped and plucked at the basset's back
until he retreated into the house. The snakes they just pecked to
death and left lying on the walk.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

[datakoll]

understanding needed.
many birds, especially well fed birds livijng in an easy life
environment undertake a 3-4 month spring orgy. Boat tail grackles
establish a harem out of the touring non mating season touring female
flock.
Butbutbut female grackles are promiscuous and mate with the first
second third and so on male flying by while her main prod is on the
other side of the tree or parking lot.
EEYEYEAHAHAHAHAHA they are a trip to watch. I'm trying to feed the
harem males hot dog chunks. They are too wound up defending the harem
who're busy looking for the first new dick flying down the street TO
EAT! One's haremless are eating noooo problem.
the male comes on this with, I assume from watching, a real rush of
hormones as for the remainder of his year-his testicles are wihtdrawn
into his body and along with the other sexually stimulating hormoans,
are relatively inactive.
Like flying around with your testicles hanging out to catch on the
first branch would be a real drag, no? Same reason Birdy has no
frontal lobes bit a developed brainstem.
In Spring, Birdy bangs off the walls