Anti Magpie devices
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Anti Magpie devices
Postby jaznit » Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:06 am
I'm keen to hear your stories of what anti magpie devices work - and which ones don't.
The cable ties seem like the most common option and from the few reviews I found they seem to stop the bird hitting you but not the swoop itself. Can you share your experiences ?
Has anyone tried getting a sticker of eyes or something similar and putting that one the top or back or a helmet? Or a helmet with a picture of a face on the top?
I'd love to hear from you guys as generally magpie season stops me from riding at all and as I just bought my first road bike (upgrade from the mountain bike with road tires) and I want to get out and ride more.
Jeff
Stanhope Gardens, NSW.
- g-boaf
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby g-boaf » Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:13 am
If you see them on the ground - toss them a few bits of food.
Next thing to try is Kask Bambino:
http://m.this link is broken/Kask-Bambino- ... ial-Helmet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- TonyMax
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby TonyMax » Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:23 am
Yes I have and it literally wasn't worth the paper it was printed on, the persistent one near work didn't seem to care and the one near home even got me on the neck just below the ear. I was "watching" them with a set of cartoony eyes stuck to the top of my helmet at the rear, and it didn't do anything.jaznit wrote:Has anyone tried getting a sticker of eyes or something similar and putting that one the top or back or a helmet? Or a helmet with a picture of a face on the top?
I've changed my lunch time riding route now and I can still get 3 laps of ~7km in without going near any of their territory (there are three or four in the area).
- DoogleDave
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby DoogleDave » Tue Oct 15, 2013 7:35 am
As for the cable ties, this will deter them from making contact on your helmet as they don't want to hit their wings on the cable ties (again, they are not stupid). However, one down-side to this method is that the aggressive/persistent birds can perch on a riders shoulder and have fun with their ears, eyes, face, neck etc. Again, the percentages of this occuring are probably low but it is a possibility.
As far as I know, the ONLY sure-fire way to avoid being swooped is to find an alternate route until breeding season is over (late Nov/early Dec - hopefully).
If you are swooped, try to focus on where you are riding, avoid panicking and pedal out of their territory at a steady and safe speed.
Once you cross their perceived boundary they will turn around andleave you alone.
Of course, it is our instinct to turn around to see where they are and try to swipe at them to scare them off - this won't work and puts you in danger of coming off your bike.
You are far better to get down low on your bike and ride out of the area....and if the bird is particularly aggressive, stop, get off the bike and walk out of the area (protecting your head/face).
Dave
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby sblack » Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:37 am
This is the best option. Magpies have the ability to differentiate and remember people, once they see you as a friend instead of a potential predator you're fine.g-boaf wrote:Food is the best device. Bribe them with food!
If you see them on the ground - toss them a few bits of food.
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby g-boaf » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:47 am
And they love it too. Saw one at Mascot in the council car park, it saw my chicken on skewers and was watching me carefully in between screeching at the other nearby magpie. So I threw it a little bit. Boy was I the favourite thing in the world for that magpie. It decided that it should have more too.sblack wrote:This is the best option. Magpies have the ability to differentiate and remember people, once they see you as a friend instead of a potential predator you're fine.g-boaf wrote:Food is the best device. Bribe them with food!
If you see them on the ground - toss them a few bits of food.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
For all the anger and horror of those birds, they can be glorious, wonderful things too.
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby biker jk » Tue Oct 15, 2013 1:37 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES_n4DgJDHs
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby rebilda » Tue Oct 15, 2013 1:53 pm
We all had hire Bikes on Saturday and rode through the wineries (though we only went into all the Pubs). When we were leaving the Wild Brumby Schnapps place, there was a particularly aggressive Magpie, patrolling the section of road, out front, along the main road.
At the time, i was wearing a Zebra Onsie (dont ask!!). The maggie didnt come near me, but the guy next to me got smashed!
My perspective is that if you are wearing some sort of eye covering and a helmet, and you dont look around and start waving your arms like a lunatic, what is going to happen to you?
just let 'em smack your helmet a bit and keep riding - or wear a Zebra Onsie at all times......it's your choice
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby g-boaf » Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:50 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby rebilda » Tue Oct 15, 2013 3:49 pm
I might have looked like a really big Magpie, on a bike
The guy next to me got smashed hard!.....(Funny!)
- nescius
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby nescius » Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:25 pm
At one stage I had 8 regular magpies that would turn up for food every day, it got to the point where they would happily come inside the house and stand next to the fridge to wait for their mince. That was years ago now and I have since moved house, but I never had any trouble from any magpies during the period that I was feeding them.g-boaf wrote:Food is the best device. Bribe them with food!
If you see them on the ground - toss them a few bits of food.
These days I just wave my hand above my head to stop them making contact, or else I just take the hit in the helmet and hope they don't get my ears.
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby Dazz » Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:15 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby recumbenteer » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:08 pm
Rotovelo Across Australia
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby moose85 » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:36 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby g-boaf » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:49 pm
That's cheating! You've got bodywork behind your head.recumbenteer wrote:And what works for me.....
http://s1200.photobucket.com/user/Wisem ... 4.jpg.html
out run 'em
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby gorilla monsoon » Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:13 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby kx315 » Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:28 pm
2013 Giant Defy Advanced 0
2016 Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby jaznit » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:23 am
I saw a guy at Mcgraths Hill McDonalds today with the zip ties and also some tennis table balls coloured like eyes stuck onto the top of his helmet which seemed like it could work.
I think I'll go the zip ties on their own and put a few out towards my shoulders - the comment from Dave about them sitting on my shoulders scares the crap out of me (yes I have a small phobia about them)
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby jaznit » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:25 am
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby rebilda » Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:58 pm
biker jk wrote:Get yourself an afro wig. It's the only thing that works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES_n4DgJDHs
Ha! That is Gold!!
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby adrian_d » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:19 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby RonK » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:52 pm
Befriend them with food if they are nesting in your backyard, not out on the road someplace.adrian_d wrote:I noticed that there were a few suggestions on giving them food.
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby RonK » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:58 pm
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby adrian_d » Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:00 pm
RonK wrote:Befriend them with food if they are nesting in your backyard, not out on the road someplace.adrian_d wrote:I noticed that there were a few suggestions on giving them food.
Ah yep totally understand now. I'm amazed at how much care and attention they take into protecting their young. If only they could have babies during Winter when most of us like to keep dry lol
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Re: Anti Magpie devices
Postby Leiothrix » Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:49 pm
I'd suggest however that sticking bits of steak on the end of zip ties attached to your helmet might be slightly counter-productive
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