You know it's springtime in Adelaide when ... the Maggies dive bomb ya on your bike!
Making the short ride from my home in Brooklyn Park to the nice bit of linear park along the Torrens where it intersects Henley Beach Rd, I had an experience I've not had since this time last year ... a Magpie dive-bombing me on my bike. It's a specific section of road it happens on - just past the Lockleys golf course.
This particular experience starts with a muffled thud on the back of your helmet, as if someone is politely knocking on a door, or a small kid has hit you a glancing blow with an apple. It's followed by a second or two of confusion as you look around trying to work out how this has happened when you're travelling at 30-odd ks an hour. Finally, you hear a flapping of wings and it clicks - one of our winged native fauna is at that aggressive nest-defending time of year!
Both times the birds have flown along with me for a good few yards (can see/hear them out of the corner of my eye), as if once they've fired a warning shot they will then sternly escort me off their territory, without going in for a second dive.
So this is one situation where I can unequivocally say bike helmets come in useful - turning a potentially painful peck in a harmless rapping ;)
BTW - judging by this photo I found in Google images, this happens in Melbourne too!
And more following of links shows that some like to go for posties too ;)
It recommends getting off your bike if you want to prevent the dives, but with a decent helmet and eye protection (shades) on I don't really see the need.
This particular experience starts with a muffled thud on the back of your helmet, as if someone is politely knocking on a door, or a small kid has hit you a glancing blow with an apple. It's followed by a second or two of confusion as you look around trying to work out how this has happened when you're travelling at 30-odd ks an hour. Finally, you hear a flapping of wings and it clicks - one of our winged native fauna is at that aggressive nest-defending time of year!
Both times the birds have flown along with me for a good few yards (can see/hear them out of the corner of my eye), as if once they've fired a warning shot they will then sternly escort me off their territory, without going in for a second dive.
So this is one situation where I can unequivocally say bike helmets come in useful - turning a potentially painful peck in a harmless rapping ;)
BTW - judging by this photo I found in Google images, this happens in Melbourne too!
And more following of links shows that some like to go for posties too ;)
It recommends getting off your bike if you want to prevent the dives, but with a decent helmet and eye protection (shades) on I don't really see the need.
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Comment by Jon Hogan on September 18, 2009 at 12:39am - The comment from angus about the cable ties. I passed someone on linear park the other day with two cable ties attached to their helmet and thought WTF but then saw this on a blog i read http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-&-riding/10754/ and it all became clear. Not sure if i will try it yet it will take some fairly constant attacking to make me want to try it i think.
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Comment by Patrick Sunter on September 8, 2009 at 11:33am
- Cool, added an icon for my dive-bomb - looks like Henley Beach Rd and the Lockleys golf course could be a hot-spot area!
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Comment by Angus Kingston on September 7, 2009 at 1:26pm -
The ABC weather forecaster Graham Creed was also attacked riding his bike home in Sydney so he's started a Google Map where you can add your Magpie Zones.
Maggie Map Click Edit, select map point icon, drag to location, fill out text (add SA) and click Done.
View Magpie Attacks in Australia, Spring 2009 in a larger map
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Comment by Jeff Marsland on September 4, 2009 at 8:33am - It's funny how you forget from one year to another about swooping magpies. I forgive them though. They must be my favourite bird. A fantastic melodious call. They're a real contrast to the Wattle Birds that seem to start squawking this time of the year. The most annoying bird around!!
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Comment by Angus Kingston on August 28, 2009 at 3:28pm
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ABC Radio 891 are starting 'Operation Magpie' in the next week or so. Intrepid reporter and cyclist Tim Noonan might need to take a few hits to get his stories to air.
But what is it about cyclists and magpies? Walkers don't get done as much where I was attacked last yr. (or not where I ride on Linear Pk anyway).
I think Luke Hallam made a comment recently about using cable ties? Luke, can you enlighten us?
Cheers
Angus
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