dealing with magpies

This is pretty much a question for Australian readers, unless there
are other countries with birds that get aggressive during nesting
season.

My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting
tree. Last September these magpies attacked me every time I went past
this tree, and I have the dents in my helmet to show for it. they tend
to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks.

Going down the hill is OK because I am gone before they notice I'm
there.

Coming back, I'm climbing in low range and it is more difficult to
escape.

Does anyone have ways that they discourage these attacks? I have heard
of painting large eyes on the back of the helmet and using a
visibility pennant higher than your head (they attack they highest
point apparently. Do any of these work?

Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll
be back, and I want to be ready for them...

Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, so solutions involving the death
or injury of the birds are probably not legal.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: dealing with magpies
    ... My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting ... to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks. ... Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll ... Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: dealing with magpies
    ... My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting ... to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks. ... Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll ... Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: dealing with magpies
    ... My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting ... to fly up and attack from behind your head with their beaks. ... Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll ... Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: dealing with magpies
    ... during nesting season. ... Last September these magpies attacked me every ... attack they highest point apparently. ... the death or injury of the birds are probably not legal. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: dealing with magpies
    ... My problem is that my route to work takes me past a magpie nesting ... Right now the birds are not nesting, but once winter is over they'll ... Oh and magpies are protected in NSW, ... One day I remembered the crow ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
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