I've only been living in this country for just over a month (can't believe it's a month already!) and before we came here I was a little bit nervous about mozzies and spiders etc but it turns out that they don't bother me, it's the frigging magpies that I'm now terrified of!

When we first arrived and were staying with the in-laws, I was about to go out for a run and MiL said don't go across the paddock cos the magpie will swoop you. So I had to learn all about the evil birds. I went a different route and was fine, but another day got dive bombed by one when running further out of town. It didn't actually touch me but I was terrified. But the in-laws live out in the sticks so when we moved into Brissie I thought we'd be fine.

But went for a walk around the park at the end of our road and I got attacked! OH didn't, but I did and it actually slammed me in the back of the head and with a big sharp beak like they've got it bloody hurt like hell. So now I'm too scared to run in the park - it's proper terrified me, so much so that now walking around anywhere and I hear any kind of bird, or even see a leaf fall from a tree, my heart stops and I'm a quivering wreck! This is so not like me.....

Went for a bike ride along the river yesterday and by the South Bank got swooped again! So I read on a cycling forum and all these poor cyclists have been attacked in the face (pouring with blood, eyes pecked etc) like something out of a horror film. I'm thinking of locking myself in the house until half way through November. And I was so looking forward to going out running and cycling here!

We had our first magpie encounter last month when we spotted a large one eyeballing us and I mean REALLY staring at us

It was only because of what I had read on here that I knew what to do. We turned round and stared back at this bird that was now on the ground looking up and making moves towards us.

After a couple of minutes of staring at it, the bird started to make its calling noise to us and came even closer, but it had stopped flapping and was just cocking his head to the side.

He 'walked/flew' with us till we got to the crossing, making his calling noise but didn't look quite so hostile.

I have been told to stare them right back in the face, how true that is I dont know but it worked for me.

Put an ice cream container on your head and draw two eyes on top. It apparently stops them swooping but you end up looking pretty stupid.

They will soon stop as they only swoop if you are near the nest in spring time.

Yeah my OH said you have to look at them. It's just pretty hard to turn round and look when a big scary bird is flying into the back of your head - it's so unnatural to put your face and eyes towards a bird flying at you! Imagine if I'd just turned round to look at it when it hit the back of my head, would have been much worse if it was my face, my beautiful face! lol

I'm thinking of wearing my motorbike helmet rather than my cycling helmet for the next few weeks

I think my son woul sympathise with you there, he gets swooped regularly and it frightens the life out of him.

I'll tell you a story.

Back in the UK we had a bird that would constantly fly into one of our windows.
And i mean CONSTANTLY, like 50 times a DAY. I don't know whether it was trying to protect what it thought was its own territory and saw its own reflection in the window or what. But our windows were a mess because of this bird.

UNTIL


I printed out a sillouette of a hawk, cut it out and stuck it in the window.
It never came back again, not even once!

So you need a white T-shirt with a hawks sillouhette on the back. Job done!

Jazzys

What with the Plovers too....leaving the house can be pretty risky....blinkin stupid birds that nest on the ground I'm amazed they're not extinct aleady


As for the Magpies, learn where they are nesting and avoid (sometimes there are signs up) or wear a big hat!

If you are walking wear a wide brimmed hat tilted back so they can't peck your face or ears. Also listen for the calls it is a kind of a falling tone.

If you see them on the electricity pole give them a good stare to let them know you are aware of them. I got swooped on my bike but if you raise your hand above your head it will put them off. If you are walking carry a stick and wave it around from time to time.

I have given up cycling for a while until the end of January. In Gladstone they seem to attack in streets where are few houses / more industrial areas which are quiet at weekends.

Got done last year by one, cut me just under the eye:curse:

So I need to get me a sombrero, a t-shirt with a hawk on it and carry a stick.... right, got it, thanks people. I reckon I'll easily make new friends walking around our new neighbourhood looking like that!

I admit Magpies are a pain, but the blasted storm birds are more of a threat to my sanity at the moment

Imagine having a few of these calling at the bottom of your garden day and night :curse:

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_con...ls/birds/koel/

Oh god, the bloody koel.

They are a complete pain in the arse.

I only carry the stick in the bushland/park. There are even signs warning of magpie attacks but the trusty old stick has seen me good every time. Some people put flags on their bikes as well.

magpie gonads swell to twice their normal size during breeding. I reckon we’d all be cranky too if that happened to us :-)

God i wet my self laughing.......it s Australia learn to live with it......mm