Magpie fury 25/9/2012
Cranky magpies have drawn Slatts’ blood on consecutive days.
Yesterday, out of the blue on the Barwon’s southern bank: ”whack!!” in the lughole. No squawk, no flutter of wings, just a solid hit so hard it caused a rick in the neck. Of course, he got me in the lobe and blood splashed over the hi-viz jacket, where it will remain as a sort of battle scar.
Today, feathered fury followed me the length of an East Geelong street. I managed to duck and weave until he drew back-of-the-neck blood on his last sortie at the end of the street. Just a scratch really, but boy do they take the pleasure out of a bike ride on a sunny day.
A wet winter and spring and animal-loving idiots who feed them have ensured they’re in plague proportions in urban areas. As expected, the Sus Dept won’t do anything about them, merely issuing stupid ”avoid them” notices. How do you avoid them if you don’t know where they are? Inevitably, a kid will lose their hearing or sight and there’ll be much hand-wringing about protected species (in unnatural numbers) and prices to pay for intruding on their habitat.
I’d just like to harken back to my late dad’s recall of dealing with swooping magpies during his 1930s boyhood. Every country property had a shotgun, a rifle and a slug gun. Swoopers didn’t last.
Many years ago, one of our farm-hands would steer his bike with one hand, and twirl a length of fencing wire above his head with the other hand. Incoming maggies usually seemed to not see the wire, but often felt it.
I counsel you against doing this, Bernie. It may be a ‘bad look’, and people might think you are crazy. And gone are the days of riding one handed.
Try an extension brim around your helmet. Because maggies usually swoop in from above and behind, the brim may keep them from making contact with flesh.
Perhaps next Spring we will see the patented Slattery Bird Shield on sale?
Deserves you bloody right Bernie to be attacked by theses flying rodents. Whats a hypicrite like you doing a Bob Brown/Clover Moore, Greenie inspired mode of transport. You deserve every bloody injury you get on a that type of transport.
Do you ride to your favourite cafe to sip lattes & chat to your fellow lycra clad bike riders about your magpie run ins whilst I drive around in my native animal killing 4WD Patrol with spot lights for shooting. Getting soft in your old age.
Fair go, Tim. Bike riding for me is merely to maintain a modicum of fitness in my retirement years. I detest the lycra-clad, jellybean look and my preferred pedalling attire is T-shirt, trackie daks and hi-viz rain jacket. After a ride, I like nothing better than to drop into the local pub and down a pot while conjuring up a winner in the last at Sandown. And by all means, feel free to train your spotlights on the ferocious feathered felons of Geelong.
Pay attention you two – magpies are NOT BAD – at least, not that bad. Cripes, they only swoop during Spring, and even then it is usually only the young parents.
Think of the benefits – less grubs in the lawn (pity we cannot train them to eat snails, but); happy carolling (although the 5:00 a.m. starts are a bit anti-social); amusing diversions for humans out exercising (so long as it is not me).
Alas, for shame, I recommend size 6 shot for the moving ones, or .17HMR for stationary birds.
Thomas, I’m astonished! It’s fewer grubs . . . and after a visit today to the Melbourne Show, I’m all in favour of a reduction in the grub population, the two-legged variety in particular.
Horror! I stand corrected! (But rightly so).
Love your stuff, Bernie. Been meaning to leave a comment here for some time, after many a good read. This item, however, did the trick. I am genuinely shocked to read that a magpie swoop made contact, let alone drew blood! I’ve been swooped plenty of times and all they’ve ever succeeded in doing was scare the bejesus (I hope I’m still allowed to say that, now) out of me. I’ll be doubly wary from now on during magpie season.
I tend like them at all other times of the year, but if I ever get my hands on one that swoops me, he’ll be well and truly plucked!