I promised myself I'd try and live a bit healthier when I came to Oz, so on Sunday morning I cycled the 5K round trip to the paper shop.

I was chased by 2 different birds ( big black and white magpie like things) one on the way to the shop and 2 on the way back. I peddled like mad to escape their clutches, big b*ggers they were and squawking like mad, one of them actually left a beak shaped dent in my helmet!

I was warned about spiders and snakes ( i've not seen any ) but no one mentioned the birds.

be careful out there folks!

Apparently a lot of the Posties will wear helmets with faces painted on the back of them when delivering to farms etc due to the birds swopping!

Most of the time it's because they have nests nearby.

It's magpies and they do it mainly when you're threatening the nest, which often just means being in the vague vicinity of it.

and they are going to be this bad for the next 3-4 months so learn where the local nests are and avoid them by at least 5km

My mother in law arrives in 3 weeks.

I got hit on my cycle helmet 6 times on our local roundabout today, it just wouldn't leave me alone

I've had no end of problems with the birds here too.

S

mine's already here

But i have seen no dangerous animals whilst i have been in OZ.

To deter the magpies, wear a baseball cap with a pair of sunglasses propped on top, if they think you are looking at them it puts them off a bit.

Is this a Viz top tip or something?

If it isn't, it should be...

S

To deter mother's in law wear a baseball cap and brandish a baseball bat. Sunglasses optional (but recommended to help conceal identity).

dont worry about spiders, snakes,crocs,birds.Queensland drivers are pretty scary too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont know what a Viz top tip is, so dont know whether to be flattered or insulted.

Is this a Viz top tip??

Once a maggie has swooped on you, it will remember you for the rest of its life and everytime it sees you it will 'go' you again