Nasty surprises from On High.
Sep. 22nd, 2001 12:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deathpixieOne thing about living in Albury-Wodonga that I've quite enjoyed is the bird life around here. Little green grass parrots, the red and blue rosellas that move down off the mountains in winter, the willy wagtail that dances on next door's TV aerial, doing the bird version of the "I'm Too Sexy" dance... However, there is one downside.
Magpies.
As you can see, rather nice looking birds. They're about the size of a small crow. And in spring, they turn psychotically territorial. Every cyclist who takes to country roads in the spring will know the sheer terror of having one of these things suddenly dive-bombing your head. No warning, just a rush of wings, maybe a squawk or two, and the scrape of claws/beak across your helmet - another reason to wear one besides the usual reason of keeping your brain inside your skull if you get totalled. Over the past couple of days, I've been swooped about four times - three times on the one ride. Luckily they don't seem to hang around the roads I use for work - too busy, even for the most deranged magpie, I guess - but they're out in force in the quieter areas and along the bike paths.
The posties (mailmen to the confused) have a huge problem with them - there was something in the local pape about one particular vicious maggie that was attacking the postie on his rounds; he wears a motorbike helmet.
Magpies.
As you can see, rather nice looking birds. They're about the size of a small crow. And in spring, they turn psychotically territorial. Every cyclist who takes to country roads in the spring will know the sheer terror of having one of these things suddenly dive-bombing your head. No warning, just a rush of wings, maybe a squawk or two, and the scrape of claws/beak across your helmet - another reason to wear one besides the usual reason of keeping your brain inside your skull if you get totalled. Over the past couple of days, I've been swooped about four times - three times on the one ride. Luckily they don't seem to hang around the roads I use for work - too busy, even for the most deranged magpie, I guess - but they're out in force in the quieter areas and along the bike paths.
The posties (mailmen to the confused) have a huge problem with them - there was something in the local pape about one particular vicious maggie that was attacking the postie on his rounds; he wears a motorbike helmet.
