Competition :- 2012 Moving Target Championship

[jasonc]

same bird, same spot - roma street bikepath shared path this morning. hit my helmet again

score +2
new total = 4

[Dan]

Same bird as jasonc yesterday afternoon, helmet whack.

Previous total: 14 points
New total: 16 points

[jasonc]

Same bird as jasonc yesterday afternoon, helmet whack.

Previous total: 14 points
New total: 16 points

it's on. I need a slingshot I reckon

[open roader]

Wed. 57km and 7 decent swoops........ but unscathed

Running total 83 points

[cyclista]

The Roma Street bikeway myna swooped me this morning! I'm terrified of the ride home this afternoon.... If I dismount will I be safe? Is the myna swooping cyclists on foot as well? Perhaps I should just stick to the sidewalk down on Countess Street. Anyone met with angry birds along there?

[Dan]

Perhaps I should just stick to the sidewalk down on Countess Street. Anyone met with angry birds along there?

I'd take my chances with angry birds over angry motorists any day.

[open roader]

Was peppered today by well over a dozen individual swooper troopers with swoops galore.................

The first magpie of the ride was a helmet hitter (x2) many more swoops in between before the final swooping session in which two magpies ganged up and swooped me a few times, in unison, only seconds apart - had to concentrate hard as the cross wind was pushing in excess of 50km/hr.........

I lost count on the tally near the end of the ride 4 points for contacts and 15 points for swoops is conservative........... it appears the magpies swoop more on the warmer days......... frankly the 'swoops per kilometer ratio' today was ridiculous.........

Running total 102 points........

[jasonc]

1 swoop just around the corner from home
+1
new total: 5

[g-boaf]

2 points - few weeks back helmet was hit, Bayfield Road Greystanes magpie.

1 point - swooped tonight near Gipps Road, no contact but a very big whoosh... I was doing 33km/h, thought I was safe. Don't know if it is the first magpie that has moved or another one... I put my head down and sprinted like crazy!

Still, they are better than snakes.

3 points

[Semar]

13 points from one psychotic magpie! A real beak snapper, but too gutless to have a real go.

Total 33 Points.

A bonus was the road kill magpie 3 km from home, just to remind me of Collingwood losing again.

[open roader]

A bonus was the road kill magpie 3 km from home, just to remind me of Collingwood losing again.

Despite being under attack and constant bombardment at this time of year, I still feel sad when I ride past the (numerous) road kill magpie fledglings......

[grt046]

82k ride yesterday some over a new track. The maggies were out to get me for some reason even though I diverted around a couple of known sites.

4 birds for a total of 25 contacts come solid and the remainder just wing contacts

Previous 12
Yesterday 25
Total = 37

[g-boaf]

A bonus was the road kill magpie 3 km from home, just to remind me of Collingwood losing again.

Despite being under attack and constant bombardment at this time of year, I still feel sad when I ride past the (numerous) road kill magpie fledglings......

I absolutely agree with that. The young magpies are lovely, especially when the parent birds are quite friendly (as my local ones are).

[jasonc]

that bird around the corner from home doesn't like me

+1 for a swoop
new score: 6

EDIT: hey diggerdantheman - workmate got hit in the side of the face by that damn bird going through roma st parklands

[Dan]

@jasonc - this should help

[jasonc]

@jasonc - this should help

that website blocked at work, but going by the name, i get the idea

[Semar]

A bonus was the road kill magpie 3 km from home, just to remind me of Collingwood losing again.

Despite being under attack and constant bombardment at this time of year, I still feel sad when I ride past the (numerous) road kill magpie fledglings......

I have become inured to the sight of road kill. Along a 30 km stretch I passed at least 5 kangaroos. Sadder are the long neck turtles, although fewer this year. I know when snakes are out and about in spring by first few squashed ones. Saw a tiger snake on Tuesday. I feel sorry for the young galahs and rosellas that feed along the roads and will never learn about oncoming traffic. But I know that magpies saturate their environment. One dies, another nestling survives.
It also helps being a Carlton supporter.

[jasonc]

gah - stupid bird in roma st parklands. saw it coming so was waving my hand above my head trying to get it to bugger off. what did it do - flew around my hand into the helmet.

anyway score: +2
new total: 8

how about if someone takes that thing "out" I'll donate to rspca

[open roader]

@jasonc - this should help

I want one in carbon fibre...........

[Semar]

Swooping day or what? Harassed by maggies on a non-swoop road. Must be working for the AFL.

14 points

Total 47 points

[g-boaf]

3 swoops today from Gipps Road Greystanes magpie. I saw the shadow chasing me and sped up to try and out-run it. It tried 3 swoops and then backed off. (phew!)

+3 points today, adding to 3 points previously, new total 6 points.

Edit: make that 7 points if I include a swooping, beak snapping butcherbird out the front of my place. But they are mostly bluff. They swoop and screech noisily.

[Semar]

Lazy birds around Seymour. Watched a mate get swooped and eyeballed the bird but it looked away.

76 km and only 3 points.

50 points.

[open roader]

5 more dive bombers today........

Running total 107 points......

[g-boaf]

5 points from the same idiotic magpie at Gipps Road Greystanes! I eventually chickened out and avoided it, so that was my 53.19 km for today.

Damn crazy bird it is - even going at more than 40km/h, it still chased and swooped, snapping its beak every time.

Previous total 6 points, new total 11 points.

[Tim]

Just looked at my first post, 22'nd July. This one bird has been at it now for nearly two and a half months. It was all good fun at first. He has become more and more aggressive over this time. The foam on my helmet under the surface shell is covered in peck marks, all on the left hand side. At least he hasn't hit an ear yet. His latest tactic is to fly in fast, hit hard, then do a vertical climb to about 20 feet altitude, drop and strike again and then repeat over and over again. I reckon he hits me close to a dozen times before I've left his turf. Lost count of points but scoring at least 40 on each out and back ride. Seriously considering asking the farmer who's front paddock my ex mate lives in to shoot the bas*#%$.