First Magpie swoop of the season!

[Ross]

Got swooped today a couple of kms or so from SFP on Uriarra Rd (3 Sisters)! It was a bit of a light hearted swoop, just one light tap on the helmet and another fly-by just to let me know he/she was there and I was in it's territory. Is it male or female Magpies that swoop?

[HAKS]

Had a maggie look like he was positioning himself for a flyby late in my ride but I kept a good eye on him so he stayed at bay. Can't recall exactly where it was.

[s-s-a]

The perennial offender on Darwinia Terrace near Perry Drive (Rivett/Chapman) got me this morning when I was heading south.

Steph

[HAKS]

The perennial offender on Darwinia Terrace near Perry Drive (Rivett/Chapman) got me this morning when I was heading south.

Steph

Oh noes......it's back!!! I always take a side street (Rafferty St) to try avoid that one, hope it works again this year.

[vinvin]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

[Ross]

Just try and ignore them, let them bounce off your helmet and keep pedalling and you'll be out of their territory soon enough.

[rockviewau]

i was lucky, the bloke about 10m in front of me got swooped down outside the tuggeranong gym, just near the public toilet....he looked angry too...

[twizzle]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

A selection of ~20cm cable ties on the helmet to give them something to avoid... works for me, anyway.

[s-s-a]

Got swooped (half heartedly) today on the Mt McDonald road about 1km south of Uriarra settlement.

Steph

[nescius]

I hate swooping season, it seemed to go on for a long time last year

[ft_critical]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

Stop, and feed it some bread. It will never swoop again.

[Ross]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

A selection of ~20cm cable ties on the helmet to give them something to avoid... works for me, anyway.

I'd rather be swooped than have cable ties sticking up out of my helmet.

[HAKS]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

A selection of ~20cm cable ties on the helmet to give them something to avoid... works for me, anyway.

I'd rather be swooped than have cable ties sticking up out of my helmet.

+1

First attempt for me yesterday on the bike path between Kambah & Chifley just near the crest of the hill. Was a mild attempt and it pulled out soon as i looked its way.

[Jean]

Ugh, what are my options? (I didn't start riding until last October and missed most of the season).

A selection of ~20cm cable ties on the helmet to give them something to avoid... works for me, anyway.

I'd rather be swooped than have cable ties sticking up out of my helmet.

+2

[cp123]

There are some plovers of death on the downramp towards the lakeside hotel where that small patch of grass is just off commonwealth ave. At least they squark and tell you they're coming.

[HAKS]

First real hit this morning in Yarralumla. Funny cause the route I took was to avoid another black spot and managed to find a new maggie . Was quite persistent as well, 4 attempts over about 250m. 2 got me by surprise, the other 2 I waved off.

Exact location was Hopetoun Cct between Weston St and Luftus St heading towards the Lake from Deakin shop.

[s-s-a]

Found a new amateur on Hindmarsh Drive while riding east along Duffy (past the back of Burdekin St between the two underpasses)... four swoops all of which kept quite a distance, and besides at approx 2.30pm I could see its shadow approaching mine quite clearly just beyond my right handlebar.

Steph

[twizzle]

First swoops of the season for me, one just past the Stromlo observatory road heading down to the Cotter reserve, the second in the s-bends at the top of Mt McDonald.

And I fitted cable ties this morning. They do work, and I'd rather avoid the damage I've seen to both helmets and people from the really nasty birds.

[you cannot be sirrus]

Twice yesterday, the first one got me four times on the helmet, persistent little bugger, just off the veloway at Sheidow Park for those in SA. The second just gave me a warning swoop near the council depot at Seaford. Never been swooped before then twice in half an hour.

[rockviewau]

athllon drive near wanniassa, where the sign is.... i was peeved as i thought i was out of range, a good distance past him then bam!!!

happy days

[Robdog]

Hindmarsh Dr, just on the Parkway side of the Melrose Dr intersection not 100m from the block of flats. Must've attacked 6 times but never made contact

[nescius]

First real hit this morning in Yarralumla. Funny cause the route I took was to avoid another black spot and managed to find a new maggie . Was quite persistent as well, 4 attempts over about 250m. 2 got me by surprise, the other 2 I waved off.

Exact location was Hopetoun Cct between Weston St and Luftus St heading towards the Lake from Deakin shop.

Sounds like the same one that got me a few times last year

[Cruiserman]

Cable Ties seem to work ok but the birds get close enough to touch the tie. Many years ago when I used to commute to Kambah HS from Chifley on my ol Spokesman I went to a craft shop and got two of the biggest - about 25x20 mm oval plastic bright blue eyes for soft toys. Stuck them on the back of my helmet and the gutless birds no longer wanted to swoop me as they thought I was looking at them through the plastic eyes. Wasnt that long ago that I threw out that old Bell helmet. Seems like it is time to go to the craft shop again.

[LoveB]

Got my first swoop ever yesterday. lol Although it was only the fly by to let me know it was there. Just waved it off. This was along the bike path on belconnen that goes around the lake.

[mikesbytes]

When I was racing on Saturday, a magpie swooped down and flied just above my helmet for about 100mtrs. I guess it was getting tired from the 100 or so cyclists that had past in the previous 15 minutes.