Comments on: Magpie swooping season

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:32:22 +0000

Yeah I know how you all feel when I was 8 a magpie brutally attacked my brother made him bleed and I’ve had a huge fear of them ever since it’s horrible friends always tease me but I dnt care when I am this scared I dnt care what people say. The other day I was scared shitless one was walking to me with wings out I just started at it and walked backwards and it just turned around I’m still scared of them though I am 15 now I used to love spring the weathers beautiful but now I dread it! I am kind of wishing they were extinct yay swooping season almost over I can have my life back !

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:05:46 +0000

I like the cable tie idea the best for riders…will try this.
want to have a bit of fun and get your own back on the maggies. go to your local hotspot wearing a helmet and taking a tennis racquet. have fun.

By: jick

jick — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:29:45 +0000

Don’t wave your stick, it will just provoke them. The umbrella thing works for me, and if you ride a bike don’t actually ride it near them, walk it. I was told the continuous movement of a bike will make them swoop. They did that to me, but when I walked, they didn’t.

By: Sophie Paton

Sophie Paton — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:14:22 +0000

hello everyone, as Maggie season is upon us again, let me share my tip which saved me last season. I was being attacked daily and there were 3 different magpies waiting for me at all entrances of my building and could not get out without being swooped. As I had my daughter in the pram with me, its not a good season and was truly petrified but needed to get out of my place or go stir crazy .
A good friend of mine said to carry an opened umbrella close to your head, at least the maggie swoops the umbrella and not you and it can also be waved as a stick…but I didn’t get swooped ONCE when I had an umbrella, so thats my one tip I can recommend. I have moved to anew neighbourhood and got swooped today twice (* very low riding more like a warning, and tomorrow, am starting to walk with my umbrella, don’t care what I look like. I tried the sunnies on your head and wearing a ahat with eyes and it didn’t work either.

By: malissa

malissa — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:12:40 +0000

like today, i used a umberella n i wasnt swooped but then i took it of and i was i dunno what 2 do anymore!!
mwah

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:32:35 +0000

They seem to be getting worse. Rochelle, waving something at them is the only defence, I think.

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:44:43 +0000

I’ve never had a run in with magpies before but I’ve just moved to a new area and they are everywhere. Last week I was taking my 4 mth old for a walk in the pram and a magpie swooped us. I was absolutely petrified and now I’m too scared to take my daughter out again.
I had a baby blanket with me and started swinging it above my head. It seemed to do the trick but as soon as I stopped, the magpie started to swoop again. i walked all the way down my street swinging a blanket above ny head.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:32:05 +0000

I started riding to the station again this week for the first time this year. Bad time to start as it turns out. I was attacked on the first morning within 20 seconds into my trip, I didn’t now what had happened,I thought I had hit something but instead turned around to see a magpie flapping wildly coming in for another attack. The offending magpies live in a small reserve next to my house so I cannot avoid passing them. I am being attacked every time I approach or leave my house and today I was hit twice and they got me good, later assessment showed I was bleeding from a peck strike less than 2cm from my eye. I was lucky. I will not underestimate them in future, I will try walking my bike as I am approaching or leaving my house and keep an eye out for maggies. I also have a small pump on my bike I may try swinging at them.

By: malissa

malissa — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:41:32 +0000

o ok thanx but is it true that red attracts magpies?? i really dont no what do 2 because magpies FREAK ME OUT!

By: adam

adam — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:00:35 +0000

Well Malissa magpies have a very good memory and remember where you were swooped and what you were wearing. My suggestion is a stick, maybe wave it above your head. Also try to wear different colours of clothes daily that might confuse it.