First Magpie swoop of the season!

User avatar
Ross
Posts: 5742
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:53 pm

First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Ross » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:49 pm

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?

User avatar
HAKS
Posts: 2348
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:28 pm
Location: Canberra, AUS

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby HAKS » Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:07 pm

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.
Current Ride: Trek Madone 6.5 (2013)

User avatar
s-s-a
Posts: 350
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:35 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby s-s-a » Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:45 pm

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

Steph

User avatar
HAKS
Posts: 2348
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:28 pm
Location: Canberra, AUS

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby HAKS » Sat Aug 07, 2010 8:42 pm

s-s-a wrote: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.
Current Ride: Trek Madone 6.5 (2013)

vinvin
Posts: 86
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:27 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby vinvin » Sun Aug 08, 2010 1:55 pm

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

User avatar
Ross
Posts: 5742
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:53 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Ross » Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:22 pm

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
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:06 pm
Location: Darwin
Contact:

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby rockviewau » Sun Aug 08, 2010 6:15 pm

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...
Lucas Hayden

Current Ride: BMC SSX01

Image

User avatar
twizzle
Posts: 6402
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
Location: Highlands of Wales.

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby twizzle » Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:59 pm

vinvin wrote: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 ride, therefore I am. But don't ride into harm's way.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...

User avatar
s-s-a
Posts: 350
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:35 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby s-s-a » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:42 pm

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

Steph

User avatar
nescius
Posts: 481
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:11 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby nescius » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:46 pm

I hate swooping season, it seemed to go on for a long time last year :(
Scott Spark 900 RC | Yeti Arc | Yeti SB130 | Trek Madone 4.5 | Look 695 SR ipack

User avatar
ft_critical
Posts: 2099
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:06 pm
Location: watching the 11
Contact:

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby ft_critical » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:02 pm

vinvin wrote: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.

User avatar
Ross
Posts: 5742
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:53 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Ross » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:25 pm

twizzle wrote:
vinvin wrote: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.

User avatar
HAKS
Posts: 2348
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:28 pm
Location: Canberra, AUS

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby HAKS » Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:44 pm

Ross wrote:
twizzle wrote:
vinvin wrote: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.
Current Ride: Trek Madone 6.5 (2013)

User avatar
Jean
Posts: 1750
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Jean » Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:08 pm

Ross wrote:
twizzle wrote:
vinvin wrote: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
Posts: 1498
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:50 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby cp123 » Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:29 pm

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. :mrgreen:

User avatar
HAKS
Posts: 2348
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:28 pm
Location: Canberra, AUS

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby HAKS » Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:29 pm

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 :P. 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.
Current Ride: Trek Madone 6.5 (2013)

User avatar
s-s-a
Posts: 350
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:35 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby s-s-a » Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:34 pm

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

User avatar
twizzle
Posts: 6402
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
Location: Highlands of Wales.

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby twizzle » Sun Aug 29, 2010 2:16 pm

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.
I ride, therefore I am. But don't ride into harm's way.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...

you cannot be sirrus
Posts: 936
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:33 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby you cannot be sirrus » Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:59 pm

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
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:06 pm
Location: Darwin
Contact:

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby rockviewau » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:21 pm

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 :)
Lucas Hayden

Current Ride: BMC SSX01

Image

Robdog
Posts: 1867
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:22 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Robdog » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:25 pm

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
2019 BMC TimeMachine R01
201x S-Works Shiv
2009 Avanti Cadent Team

User avatar
nescius
Posts: 481
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:11 pm
Location: Canberra

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby nescius » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:33 pm

HAKS wrote: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 :P. 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 :x
Scott Spark 900 RC | Yeti Arc | Yeti SB130 | Trek Madone 4.5 | Look 695 SR ipack

Cruiserman
Posts: 500
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:14 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby Cruiserman » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:57 pm

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.
2008 Specialized SWorks Roubaix SL - Zipps - Campag - Nuff Said
1986 Spokesman Model 11 Racing - Campag Nuvo Record - Stronglight - Shimano 600
Image

LoveB
Posts: 560
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:33 pm

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby LoveB » Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:41 am

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.
Image

User avatar
mikesbytes
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 22155
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:42 pm
Location: Tempe, Sydney
Contact:

Re: First Magpie swoop of the season!

Postby mikesbytes » Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:16 am

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.
If the R-1 rule is broken, what happens to N+1?

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users