Comment

Comment on Discussion Thread 📷 Thursday 4 September 2025

There’s a swooping magpie on my ride now the wetland path has opened up again. I can detach my front light so I’ve been taking it off and holding it on my head backwards so the light is facing the magpie.

It seems to work quite well. I also turn and swing my arm at it when I see the bird. I refuse to be one of those cyclists with the cable ties on my helmet. Lights on the back of the helmet might be the simplest solution for magpies, and also increases overall visibility.

source

Sort:hotnew top

Bottom_racer@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
if you do end up w/ cable ties you could stick some mince on the ends and bribe them. Might look a bit odd though.

source
- tombruzzo@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  That could almost be worse. Magpies can remember people and live for about 20 years so you don’t want a magpie expecting anything from you.
  
  source
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
I’ve got one at the park so I swing the dog leash around above my head, but now I’m avoiding the park all together because it’s attacking my dog.

source
- MeanElevator@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  I have a dachshund for that exact purpose.
  
  source
- tombruzzo@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  Attacking the dog’s not cool so it makes sense to avoid it. I’ve waited over a year for this path to open again so I’m using it. The magpie will swoop for two months at most so I just have to be ready with the lights.
  
  source