The Australian magpie is a very intelligent and usually friendly bird. That all changes in late winter and spring when some of them become very protective of their babies during breeding season.

Normally their form of attack is to swoop on people entering their territory, often with their angry noise, but sometimes with no sound at all. They always attack from behind, but rarely make contact, and once you leave their territory they leave you alone.

Sadly, this year, a baby died after her mother dropped her during a particularly nasty attack in Brisbane.

Cyclists are very vulnerable. I think the helmets make the birds think that riders are a greater threat than normal people, and possibly the much higher speed than pedestrians might add to the threat factor.

In Narrabri, magpie season usually starts in the first week of August. The drought the last few years made the winters a little warmer so the attacks started late July. I think also that the lack of food caused by the drought, and perhaps lower survival of the chicks made them more aggressive.

This year the season started about the second week, and have been less numerous and less intense than previous years. In my normal daily ride there are probably only about 2 swooping magpies spread over a distance of 11 km. I am especially glad that the bird we called the “nut job” has disappeared. He lived at the far end of the bridge near our house, and would attack without warning, often making contact with the helmet.

The magpies that live in the trees near our house are usually friendly enough. They had a go at me this morning in my own driveway. I walked out into the middle of the road and took my helmet off and put it back on again a couple of times while maintaining eye contact. The first time I did this, it was in attack mode but veered away when I removed the helmet. I hope they have it worked out now! Tim later went out on his bike and they attacked him, so he might have to teach them who he is with and without the helmet.

Can’t wait for October when the birds should resume normal behaviour. Although peewees, which have similar colouration to the magpies, can be aggressive even through summer.

Australia, the land where everything wants to kill you. 🙂