Magpie Watch

[SeanB]

Seaview rd one got me too!

[Mulger bill]

You lads in the Moving Targets competition in General? The prize has been increased

[Trev Campbell]

Slightly OT, but got chased by a Duck coming down the old freeway yesterday, I assume he/she was protecting the ducklings (That I didn't see)

[Wino]

I can vouch for the "hand in the air - like you just dont care" approach. It gives you that TdF feeling for a few minutes, without the swoops or looking like a dork for the whole ride with cable ties on the helmet.

I have a resident magpie who always swoops and I have to go through his territory. A hand in the air stops him swooping my head and smacking into my back. He will still comes close, but no contact. This is after multiple trials [and theoretically statistically valid ].

[winstonw]

Was talking to two older riders over coffee this morning, and reckons a maggie hit in the eye from front side years ago. I always thought they approached from behind.
The other codger reckons one flew from in front and hit his chest, where it latched on and pecked at his face.

Sounds like BS to me, but these guys aren't known for fibbing. Has anyone else ever had a front or near front on attack?

[MichaelB]

Was talking to two older riders over coffee this morning, and reckons a maggie hit in the eye from front side years ago. I always thought they approached from behind.
The other codger reckons one flew from in front and hit his chest, where it latched on and pecked at his face.

Sounds like BS to me, but these guys aren't known for fibbing. Has anyone else ever had a front or near front on attack?

Don't know them from a bar of soap, but sounds very suss to me. Only have ever been swooped from behind, but have never had blood drawn either.

[willie]

Perhaps look out on Sheoak Road, 100-200m up the hill from the top of the 20% section (or from the 20% sign). There is a straight section lined with gum trees with houses on one side and the train line on the other where I was swooped thrice, contacted twice. That was on the way down, too, when I was doing 50km/h.

I was pretty paranoid after that, especially on the (much slower) ride back up the hill . Waving my hand above the helmet seemed to keep it away on the up track.

I haven't been riding long and have NEVER been swooped under any circumstances. At the time I wondered if my black/white helmet may have had something to do with it.

Do you hear of people actually getting hurt by these things often? (stacking as a result not included)

[chodeofwar]

I have been getting swooped every time i go out. All of the roads leading out of Kapunda have maggies on standby and the whole Barossa area i thick with them, cant wait till its over so i can just concentrate on riding.

[eddy montignac]

Fist above the head worked again for me yesterday in the Hindmarsh Valley. Maggie halted in mid swoop and thereafter kept his distance while escorting me off his territory.

[Fresh]

Got hammered by about 4 of them going up to Mt Osmond the other day. That climb is torture enough without magpies adding to the pain!

[southernshark]

Chandler's Hill Rd parallel to Happy Valley Reservoir. Little bugger swooped me a good five times, no contact but I sure heard/felt him. Unfortunately, I'm an inexperienced rider and was just riding home from picking up my bike, so it was even less fun. Will try the fist in the air thing as I'm headed along the Veloway tomorrow and might encounter the TAFE one.

[MichaelB]

Got hammered by about 4 of them going up to Mt Osmond the other day. That climb is torture enough without magpies adding to the pain!

How far up ? From the freeway side or Thirkell/Hayward Rd side ?

[optoplex]

Is the norton sumit road maggie still attacking?

[Fresh]

How far up ? From the freeway side or Thirkell/Hayward Rd side ?

The Thirkell/Hayward Rd. When the hairpins start.

Is the norton sumit road maggie still attacking?

Yep, the bastard crashed into my helmet a few times and cut my ear open about an hour ago. Headwind on the way down was intense.

[Wino]

There's a fast little bugger out near Tunkillo (in the Adelaide Hills). Just coming down the hill, sitting on about 70k/h and he manages to get me everytime. Scared the $#@t out of me the first time. Now i'm expecting him, but you really cant do anything at that speed, just hold on and go as fast as you can to get out of their territory.

[winstonw]

BNE: Kedron Brook, Gordon Park

Tindal and Gordon Streets, just up from KB bike path.

This morning, this bugger was full on. He started attacking as I came up on the path from KBB through Kokoda Park, and continued for a solid 100 metres along Tindal Street. He dived at least 10 times all up. The first two he struck, and the next 8 I had my arm up waving though he was getting so close to my hand I could feel his wing flaps. A woman living in the street and watching said he had been very aggressive for 2 weeks, and struck people hard.

On reflecting about it afterwards, I turned my creative juices on, and came up with a new fight back tactic.
I have a mirror attached and will watch for his approaches. As he comes into strike, I'm going to throw a handful of fine sand up and over shoulder and hopefully score it right in his beady red angry eyes.

[MichaelB]

Thanks for the update re Qld maggies, but I guess we are pretty safe from them in South Australia !!!

[winstonw]

Thanks for the update re Qld maggies, but I guess we are pretty safe from them in South Australia !!!

Bugger. Thanks Michael. There was a general magpie thread around somewhere. Didn't notice this thread was under south australia when it came up in the search results.

[U2adam!!!]

Was talking to two older riders over coffee this morning, and reckons a maggie hit in the eye from front side years ago. I always thought they approached from behind.
The other codger reckons one flew from in front and hit his chest, where it latched on and pecked at his face.

Sounds like BS to me, but these guys aren't known for fibbing. Has anyone else ever had a front or near front on attack?

Reckon it could be true... last year there was a magpie near the Salopian Inn at McLaren Vale which would fly next to me and then slam into my head and shoulders from the side with its body. It did this about 3-4 times without losing any speed. When I turned to give it 'the eye' I saw hanging around it's neck the 'Innovative Magpie Attack 2010' award. Crafty bugger that one...

Tim

[Daccordi Rider]

Is the norton sumit road maggie still attacking?

Yep

[rustychisel]

Norton Summit magpie still active according to the girls, three of them went out on Sunday morning and got the full treatment (4 swoops) coming down at about 50kmh

[MichaelB]

Norton Summit magpie still active according to the girls, three of them went out on Sunday morning and got the full treatment (4 swoops) coming down at about 50kmh

Any particular spot, or does it vary ?

[rustychisel]

I didn't ask TBH

Daughter was riding my bike so I was more concerned about going over it with the proverbial fine toothed comb.

[Daccordi Rider]

I went up Friday after work and he gave me 1 half-hearted swoop (no contact), about halfway up, after you go over the little bridge I think, I can't remember that far back.

[GWH74]

Found this link on a local bike forum.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=212759098288513153613.0004a971af45eb2d5ca6d&msa=0&ll=-34.84424,139.004517&spn=0.600732,1.234589

It is open collaboration d easy to add them.