Magpie Watch 2009

[jaydee]

It's started!

I've heard mention of a diver on Kingsford Smith Drive - but can't remember the side street. Anyone know from first hand experience?

So please post your warnings here. Good luck and safe cycling.

[Mulger bill]

Theres a thread in general Jaydee discussing the feathered Stukas including a link to a dedicated magpie patrol website.

Shaun

[jaydee]

Sorry - just restarting discussion for Canberra cyclists from last year. It was great to have a local discussion that didn't require you to wade through all the other states. I am having trouble loading and then working out how to use the Magpie Map link.

[Bantam Roosta]

No strikes for me yet, but I've seen quite a few hovering around, up along Northbourne Av. Also, don't go anywhere near Gundaroo in the near future. I went up there the other day and passed about 10 of them. It could become messy when they fire up.

[Fletcher]

I was swooped last sunday riding up the bike path on Haydon Dr, Bruce. Right near Radford College. As far as Magpie swoops go, it was mild. No actual contact, just letting me know it was on the lookout.

[HAKS]

No direct hits yet. Closest one was last weekend coming down the athlon drive bike path just before the tunnel which joins lake tugg bike path. Few more rides past there this week and no more attempts.

Also had a looker on the parkway bikepath between Kambah and Lyons. Was easy to keep an eye on him though so he just keep a close guard from the powerlines. Was on the section near Fisher heading up the hill away from Tugg.

Last but not least was at the intersection of Darwinia Tce and Perry Dr in Chapman. This was the most aggressive i've seen this year but still didn't make contact.

[stu]

Got my first hit today in Kambah just down from Sullwood dr & Athlon roundabout.

I wanst even thinking about the bloody things & wack he nails me.

Stu

[DaNmAn]

Uh ok here we go again.

There is a magpie that stalks mostly the north corner of the roundabout that joins Paul Coe/Shoalhaven Avenue to Mirrabei in Gunghalin.
I still ride by there daily, on the southern side of teh roundabout, but the cheeky bugger sits on those really tall light poles and stalks you, dive bombing for your head from about 50m.
Never been clipped around the ears by this one, but it loves tapping on my helmet to say hello... Enjoy...

[HAKS]

Got my first hit today in Kambah just down from Sullwood dr & Athlon roundabout.

I wanst even thinking about the bloody things & wack he nails me.

Stu

On the bike path? There were a few particular aggressive ones last year along that bike path. I've been flogging it down there the past week hoping to get through unscaved.

[stu]

Yep same place as last year just before you get down to the red rooster round about.

Stu

[twizzle]

(Twizzle digs in his backpack - yep, three cable ties).

[Fletcher]

Hey Twizzle
I've seen many a cyclist with cable ties poking out of their lids, but never tried it meself. Is it an effective deterrent?

[twizzle]

Hey Twizzle
I've seen many a cyclist with cable ties poking out of their lids, but never tried it meself. Is it an effective deterrent?

Worked for me. Tends to keep them a bit further away than without. The guy who first tried it at work went from being hit by one particular magpie to just being given the 'close pass' treatment by one specific bird.

Tended to make me more agressive as well - if I could see them closing in via the shadow, I'd flick my head back and try and hit them.

[Bantam Roosta]

I reckon they work. Here's a discussion on that exact topic.

[HAKS]

No cable ties on my helmet yet and no maggie contact either . Got some big eyes on it though which i hope is doing the trick although the aggressive bird up from my house hasn't started swooping yet

[DavidH]

No cable ties on my helmet either. And last year the magpie at the Glenloch Interchange managed to bury his beak into the back of my neck twice in one encounter. Bled profusely. I had to stop another cyclist to take a look and check out the damage.

Maybe I'll consider the cable tie treatment this year...

[twizzle]

I don't think they have started swooping yet around my rides. But there sure are a lot of maggies around this year!

[HAKS]

Anyone notice any maggie habits? I ride past a group of about 20 of them quite often but have never been swooped by them. So i'm wondering if its reasonable to think when they are in flocks they may be less likely to swoop when compared to by themselves?

[twizzle]

Anyone notice any maggie habits? I ride past a group of about 20 of them quite often but have never been swooped by them. So i'm wondering if its reasonable to think when they are in flocks they may be less likely to swoop when compared to by themselves?

It's the ones you don't see you have to worry about.

[HAKS]

Very true. I spoke to soon re: getting hit. Riding up Melbourne Ave this morning towards Red Hill and was trying to decide if was time to take the arm warmers off and then "smack"!!! Maggie straight into my helmet, didn't really bother me though as it didn't come back for 2nd dibs and did no damage.

[DavidH]

First encounter...

Barton Hwy, heading towards Yass, about 500m before the ACT/NSW border. As far as magpies go, this one was pretty "friendly". Flew above me for about 100m, and swooped in close about four times, but didn't make contact. If they were all as "friendly" as this one I'd almost look forward to this aspect of spring cycling.

[twizzle]

First encounter...

Barton Hwy, heading towards Yass, about 500m before the ACT/NSW border. As far as magpies go, this one was pretty "friendly". Flew above me for about 100m, and swooped in close about four times, but didn't make contact. If they were all as "friendly" as this one I'd almost look forward to this aspect of spring cycling.

O.K. - where exactly was that??? At the turnoff to Wallaroo?

Might be time to fit those cable ties.

[DaNmAn]

I have heard that cable ties divert them from your head to your more fleshy parts.

Anyone care to discuss without the need for me to chase up that link?

The magpie that i "Know" just likes to tap on my head and say hello - so keen to keep it at that rather than poke my fleshy parts.

[twizzle]

I have heard that cable ties divert them from your head to your more fleshy parts.

Anyone care to discuss without the need for me to chase up that link?

The magpie that i "Know" just likes to tap on my head and say hello - so keen to keep it at that rather than poke my fleshy parts.

Nope - that's BS. I was closely acquainted with a large number of maggies over the last two years and the cable ties are worth their weight in gold. But if the maggie wants to draw blood, it's not going to be put off by cable ties - they are the ones to avoid...

[DavidH]

O.K. - where exactly was that??? At the turnoff to Wallaroo?

About halfway between Wallaroo Rd and Victoria St. If you see him say "hi" from me.