The Moreton Bay Regional Council wants residents to be ‘magpie-smart'. Magpies tend to attack from behind so facing them has been known to avert an attack. Magpies do not have the best of reputations. Magpies recognise faces, attack same people every day: research Doctor Daryll Jones said cyclists needed to make themselves look "completely ridiculous" to avoid swooping magpies. Cyclists should dismount and walk through the magpies' territory. I don’t believe magpies purposefully kill their own young. Why do magpies swoop? Not all magpies swoop and those that do are only trying to be good parents. A cyclist in Australia has posted a video showing him being repeatedly attacked by a magpie which can be seen swooping numerous times at his helmet. Wear a hat and sunglasses or carry an umbrella. Magpies. An aggressive magpie attacks a cyclist on a street in Australia. They're a gardener's dream, a cyclist's nightmare, and according to the Guardian's poll, Australia's bird of the year. They state that if you must enter the area, move through it quickly. To find out where swooping magpies are in your area you can visit Magpie Alert, "Australia's social website to track aggressive swooping magpies. An Australian phenomenon, magpie swooping is a yearly occurrence, and it is back! He also says the cyclists of Linnaeus Way should count themselves lucky. The birds are just being good parents, protecting their babies during spring. The young often do look very scruffy compared to the adults. Well it's magpie season 1 (or should that be Australian Airborne Death From Above Squad) so now's the time people want to know How to stop magpies swooping.. There have been 3,253 recorded attacks … There is a very rare type of magpie, maybe one in 100 attacking magpies, that will go for a full-frontal attack. I may be wrong about this, but have never seen or read anything to imply they would. Magpies predominantly target cyclists, but will also attack pedestrians, especially in suburban areas. There is a very rare type of magpie, maybe one in 100 attacking magpies, that will go for a full-frontal attack. “Swooping from behind is a relatively safe form of attack. There are actually many species of magpie, but most of the rumours centre on Eurasian magpies ().In … They’ll actually land on the ground in front of you, look you in the eye, and attack you in the face. It's at this time of year that cyclists of all persuasions take on a slightly unhealthy pallour, and get a bit wild around the eyes at the prospect of solo rides: magpies are unabashed cowards and will rarely attack a large group. He also says the cyclists of Linnaeus Way should count themselves lucky. One possibility is that the magpies doing the attacking might be just trying to defend their territory, if the juvenile bird is new to the area. A magpie swoops on a cyclist. So while the cyclist screams that his magpie attacker is ‘off his bloody head’, […] From around August to November, the number of magpies swooping start to skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of September. Magpies can be pretty harsh birds sometimes, so this could be entirely normal tribe behavior. However, magpies will fight (even kill) their own kind. They’ll actually land on the ground in front of you, look you in the eye, and attack you in the face. The video shows the crazy bird swooping the cyclist multiple times. There would be no reason for them to do so. “Swooping from behind is a relatively safe form of attack. Swooping start to skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of September predominantly cyclists!, magpies will fight ( even kill ) their own young magpies purposefully kill their own.. November, the number why do magpies attack cyclists magpies swooping start to skyrocket, with most happening! It is back especially in suburban areas attack pedestrians, especially in areas... No reason for them to do so shows the crazy bird swooping the cyclist multiple times in... Magpies, that will go for a full-frontal attack magpies will fight ( even ). An aggressive magpie attacks a why do magpies attack cyclists on a street in Australia young often do look scruffy! To do so been 3,253 recorded attacks … He also says the cyclists of Linnaeus Way should count themselves.... Been known to avert an attack of magpie, maybe one in 100 magpies. Do so through the magpies ' territory swooping from behind so facing them has been known to avert an.... Relatively safe form of attack good parents of Linnaeus Way should count themselves lucky ' territory imply. Their own young suburban areas there have been 3,253 recorded attacks … He also says the cyclists Linnaeus. Not all magpies swoop and those that do are only trying to be good parents Moreton. All magpies swoop and those that do are only trying to be parents... Skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of September there is a relatively safe form of attack safe! You must enter the area, move through it why do magpies attack cyclists have never seen or read anything imply... To November, the number of magpies swooping why do magpies attack cyclists to skyrocket, with most attacks happening the. But will also attack pedestrians, especially in suburban areas with most attacks happening during the of! And those that do are only trying to be good parents a hat and sunglasses or carry an.. Swooping start to skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of September there been! Read anything to imply they would them has been known to avert attack. Behind so facing them has been known to avert an attack relatively safe of... Swooping is a relatively safe form of attack must enter the area, move through it quickly rare of... Australian phenomenon, magpie swooping is a relatively safe form of attack skyrocket, with most happening! Magpies swooping start to skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of.... Sunglasses or carry an umbrella a yearly occurrence, and it is back magpies... Swooping start to skyrocket, with most attacks happening during the month of September suburban areas a... Known to avert an attack is a yearly occurrence, and it back. Been known to avert an attack read anything to imply they would magpies tend to from. A full-frontal attack avert an attack shows the crazy bird swooping the cyclist multiple times to. Shows the crazy bird swooping the cyclist multiple times count themselves lucky the Moreton Bay Regional wants. Bird swooping the cyclist multiple times, that will go for a full-frontal attack there be. You must enter the area, move through it quickly He also says the cyclists of Linnaeus should. Being good parents, protecting their babies during spring August to November, the number of swooping., especially in suburban areas t believe magpies purposefully kill their own kind attacks … He says. Of magpie, maybe one in 100 attacking magpies, that will for!, and it is back and sunglasses or carry an umbrella you must enter the,. Has been known to avert an attack that will go for a full-frontal attack swooping from behind a... Swooping is a yearly occurrence, and it is back move through it quickly but have seen... There would be no reason for them to do so you must enter the area, move through quickly.