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news
VIDEO: Terrifying scenes as Aussie cyclist dive-bombed 13 times by magpie
A terrifying video has emerged of an Australian cyclist being dive-bombed 13 times by a magpie.
The sometimes-aggressive Australian magpie is known for this tactic, and is a protected species found in all states and territories of the country.
These birds are commonly associated with swooping during breeding season, which generally runs from August to November.
The male magpies become violent defenders of their young, attacking any intruders who they perceive to be encroaching on the nests.
Bike riders being attacked are generally advised to dismount and walk away.
Jon Clarke, who runs the swoop-tracking website MagpieAlert.com, told Atlas Obscura: “Anyone across Australia can come and register their swoops to pre-warn others.” It is equipped with interactive maps and magpie-deterrence tips.
“We’ve had a number of attacks this year around the eyes and the face and the ears,” says Clarke. “Ears seem to be a pretty common attack point.”
Some studies even show that magpies are capable of “facial recognition,” and use it to zero in on their swoop victims.
Some Aussie cyclists even take defensive measures, but Bicycle Queensland chief executive Ben Wilson said methods such as attaching zip ties and googly eyes to your helmet are, based on research, “essentially useless, and make you look like a dork.”
Latest Comments
- BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP 1 sec ago
So the collective noun for a group of cyclists is 'a hoard'?
- BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP 8 min 16 sec ago
Bro needs to be in primary position.
- Mathemagician 9 min 37 sec ago
To answer your question, yes you can sometimes feel the difference. Built a set of wheels for a friend and he installed them with new lightweight...
- Geordiepeddeler 6 hours 48 min ago
Cycling infrastructure does not force drivers to break the law, drivers are the reason they break the law, no one else.
- chrisonabike 7 hours 1 min ago
Ah but taking pictures of things to defy the man (avoid a fine) is righteous. Taking pictures of people to grass on them to the cops (perhaps...
- jaysa 10 hours 11 min ago
As a woman, this works great for me! My chain broke once, and a kind guy stopped with a chain breaker and sorted it all out for me. We stopped at a...
- andystow 11 hours 3 min ago
Same. I also have gone through a bunch of their tyres, and only the extralight disappointed (torn sidewall) but the standards are fantastic....
- chrisonabike 13 hours 27 sec ago
Indeed - but it's no more inconsistent than our current road design - very often UK high streets are "for shopping" and also a busy through route....
- mike the bike 14 hours 30 min ago
If you ask the world's leading economic commentators how many people have been rescued from abject poverty by capitalism the average answer would...
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22 comments
Fantastic: definitely the most Aussie video I've seen all year.
That's not a magpie. THIS is a magpie.
These beautiful birds only swoop from August to November (in my experience). Got hit once on the right ear and bled like f**k. Since then I have attached thick zip ties cut down to size on each side of my helmet angled down to cover my ears. Looks silly but once bitten twice shy. And remember to always wear sunnies other glasses.
He deserves it for that outrageous over the top accident and for having his helmet straps over his sunglasses, not to mention the silly appendages on his bars
Don't blame him.
I'd dive bomb an Aussi if I saw one too.
Just kidding, love you guys really! 
The Brit magpie is half the size and afraid of humans.
I was dive bombed when walking through the national park near Lane Cove, Lindfield, NSW. Big bird too.
Terrifying? He doesn't look too terrified. This is just click bait.
That's what Addison Lee drivers get reincarnated as
of course I know what to do standard local authority solution:
Cyclists Dismount
swooping cyclists dismount.JPG
Even birds hate cyclists...
G'dammit Halfwheeler why did ya go and delete your response. That was actually quite funny.
Ah gowan - put it back
Was dive bombed by a buzzard, about half a dozen times, about 15 miles SW of Glasgow.
Scary as fuck...
Sure it wasn't a drunk Weegie?
A flying drunk weegie? Are you fucking high?
No, but given the proximity to Glasgow I was assuming you might have been
.
Do the magpies attack pedestrians also?
If not, why not?
(If they do, how would dismounting help?)
Do lycra-clad fast-moving cyclists get misidentified as large cats or something? (Like with sharks and surfers and seals)
Or is it just that every living thing in Australia is anti-cycling?
My mate who lives in Perth has been attacked by one whilst jogging - and she's only ikkle
Yes, but only part of the year. I spent time in Oz as a kid and magpies specialise in tormenting kids on their way to school.
Most of the year they're fine, they sing beautifully and stand by the road staring at things on the ground while you speed past
Ah that was brilliant! PMSL
Australia's mental, mad pic going around of holidayers in Sidney waking up to a massive world destoying arachnid just chilling in their apartment room. Lucky as.. could have woken up with their face eaten off.
Situation normal downunder for this time of year
Best solution is to ride faster
He had tri bars anyway so who cares
I think it's pretty scary to have a bird repeatedly attack you as you're riding. I did see people with zip ties on their helmets In Sydney but they looked to be more of a threat to fellow commuters on the ferry than anything else.
Thank god British magpies are more chilled.
'Terrifying' because he knew it was coming? And he was wearing a helmet (someone tell Superpython we have finally found a use for a helmet.) Down vote for being too Australian.