The Worst Magpies I've Ever Encountered! Double Attacks! 🚲🦅🦅🇦🇺

It's that time of year again here in Australia and our Aussie Magpies (not the same as EU/UK magpies) are on the attack! I was pre-warned these two might be a little aggressive. I didn't expect them to be THIS aggressive. These are definitely the worst I've ever come across. They're really on top of their game! 🤣
Six Tips for Dealing with Swooping Magpies:
1 - If you're in a group, don't ride at the back. Let someone else take the hit! :)
2 - Cover your ears - They love a good ear scratch.
3 - Cover your neck - Another scratch zone.
4 - Sunglasses - Although they almost always attack from behind. Protect them anyway.
6 - Make eye contact - They won't swoop or come too close if you're looking at them.
6 - Raise a hand - That's usually all it'll take to keep them off your back, literally.
Cameras Used:
Handheld - Insta360 GO 2: amzn.to/3PZzOCE
Helmet Cam - GoPro Hero 10: amzn.to/3Ky5Btn
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#magpie #Australia #bicycle

[@TonyWestAU]

Thanks!

[@gplama]

Thanks for the 10er Tony. And for being a channel member!👌🏼

[@mawkernewek]

The real reason Australia went in for a compulsory cycle helmet law.

[@glennoc8585]

That's a strong argument for it.

[@RJE1986]

Makes me glad for the Magpies we have here in the UK! Ours just sit there cross eyed thinking “what’s this silly human doing”

[@jamesmckinney9639]

This needs to be a new short Strava segment called Magpie's attack.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

I have thirty magpies living in a tree near me and they have never swooped anyone that I am aware of. They will fly past me at speed but only going about their business not attacking.

[@alexanderkoch4830]

In Australia everything is trying to kill you...even the birds.

[@-paulmp]

No, in Australia everything *can* kill you, but doesn't want to... where as the stuff that does want to kill you, can't.

[@vladdracul5072]

Cyclists are fair game everywhere, not just in Australia. And not just for magpies.

[@darrenhaines1]

I like how you seem to have a helmet specifically for Magpie video recording

[@dadofthree28]

Back in 2003, mate and I were in Perth for the rugby world cup. We went to watch WA vs a touring SA team. On our walk across a park to the ground a viscous magpie (2m wingspan at least) strated to attack like this video. I sprinted at top speed across the park to get away, but it got me and drew blood on my head! My mate says it's the funniest thing he's seen and still laughs about it now! Me....not so much! 🙂

[@glennoc8585]

Things can seem physically distorted under stress. A 2m wingspan for a magpie would be teradactyl

[@normandiebryant6989]

Awww, they're cute, fabulous and very musical. :)

[@TonyWestAU]

Thanks for taking the hits for us Shane. And agree, never seen them partnering up before.

[@ozziejed]

Nicely done, Shane. Our cat's favourite video now.

[@paulcoffey359]

I'm always terrified I'll unwillingly move into the path of traffic, in an effort to avoid attack. Still, it's always great fun watching others bear the indignity.

[@-paulmp]

We have a couple on the route I usually ride, I started feeding them... they don't swoop me at all now, yet continue to swoop other riders. Win them over if you are a regular on a route of theirs.

[@garyclarke9685]

Will make absolutely no difference with me as they hate me

[@-paulmp]

@@garyclarke9685 Magpies are pretty clever and hold grudges, same as crows... they also teach their young who to trust. The ones that live near me bring their young to our back door to be fed.

[@garyclarke9685]

@@-paulmp interesting point about teaching their young who not to trust. I still hate then & always will

[@whackosmack3636]

When I was young there was an old indigenous fellow who would tell us about the animals. When he described why magpies attacked he had my friends and I in stitches telling us,"He attacks ya because he's got kids on the way and he comes to get ya to protect the missus and kids,he's telling you GET THE FARK OUTTA HERE YOU C*NTS I LIVE HERE AND YOU COME NEAR MY HOUSE AND MY LADY'S BABIES I'LL FARK YOU C*NTS UP, feed em he'll leave you little fellas alone and he'll be your friend"

[@seanpie5481]

That video made my day. Hilarious. “I think they’ve warmed to me aaaaaahhhh faaak!”

[@markbentley4343]

My annual KZbin highlight. Thanks Shane 👍

[@stevep2430]

I have them waiting at my back door waiting to be fed, have no problems with them. Guess they know the hand that feeds them.😁

[@diracflux]

Shane, you are a magpie magnet.

[@tadroid3858]

This was awesome! Thanks. I was searching for Collingwood videos, but this was even better! Go Pies!!

[@gplama]

2023 premiers? 🏆

[@JuggernautMTB]

Love these. I wait all year for your annual Magpie encounter videos. They’re humorous and coincide with my mental shift from road to mountain biking. Fall in the north east US is the absolute best time to be on the trails. Apologies for the “schadenfreude”. 😊

[@gplama]

It's all good. It's a great time of year here. It means summer is on the way.

[@u3962521]

give a thought to those who have been killed as a result of a magpie attack or made quadraplegic. there are quite a few

[@vietnguyen4312]

There is a tag team in Balliang (not far from you) that are nasty. One of them ripped the light off my helmet which landed on the road. Then both perched around my light daring me to go back and pick it up. I never went back. lol

[@rpaylay7891]

I had no clue magpies did this until watching a Bluey episode "Curry Quest" and i had to pause the episode to come see it for real. Wow, wild.

[@WorldLandscapeArchitecture]

I got struck last week on the ear drawing blood whilst riding the Moonee Ponds Creek trail. There are two about 2km apart, thankfully there are paths on both sides of the creek and for some reason they don't cross over the creek.

[@k.l.7755]

Nice job man! Fav KZbinr this year, hahahaha!

[@daelpixphotography]

The only scary scenario was when I was cycling along a canal (I'm in the UK). I saw a mute swan ahead of me showing me its aggresive posture because it had young. As I cycled past it, the bloody thing started chasing after me. I fully pelted it along the canal as fast as my legs could carry me while the swan was flying behind above the water......It taught me a lesson not to cycle along the canal in the breeding season.

[@henhousecycling3916]

Magpie activity and incident maps are a great guide... For myself, I just avoid those areas until nesting season is finished.

[@garyclarke9685]

Yeah magpie alert is an informative website the problem is when the season begins one doesn't know much about where & when attacks happen not at first.

[@timodoherty2361]

And the pair are back this year - 2023, was hit about 4 times today and I was was popped on as well

[@gplama]

I was out there today too. I have a ton of footage of them cracking me on the head.

[@ZioComposite]

Wow, the bike radar needs a magpie update

[@g4rymw110]

And there’s me thinking , snakes,insects and huntsman spiders were the only thing to worry about in Australia , the magpie swoop should be the next bushtucker challenge on I’m a celebrity get me out of here , I feel guilty for laughing Shane but it was a great video 😄👍🏼

[@gplama]

Getting swooped can be a scary experience. Watching someone else get swooped is always hilarious! 🤣

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

Huntsman are harmless, research the funnel web spider. But getting swooped isn't fun.

[@g4rymw110]

@@chrisvanbuggenum871 yes I can image, I’ve been swooped by big seagulls over here in UK not on the bike just working by their nest , it was Shane’s reaction and comments made me laugh , I did say I felt guilty , Huntsman just look too scary 😀

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

@@g4rymw110 yeah i had huntsmen inside my bedroom. Not dangerous but boy i wanted it outta there! Your seagulls swoop!? Ours don't!

[@g4rymw110]

@@chrisvanbuggenum871 if your working by their nest yes the seagulls swoop and are aggressive had to stand with a brush to stop them swooping my work colleague whilst he fixed the roof , I was his bodyguard armed with a brush 😄

[@DCCSound]

After the first swoop I raise my hand in the air above my head and they seem to stay away when they'd normally come back a couple of times. Also riding solo seems to make it worse.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

Is there a helmet mount for a Stinger surface to air missile?

[@jollyroger1009]

I'm getting dive-bombed by NZ magpies out on my running track at the moment 😂. They're very smart, but defending their nest so salute to them. But all the same I return fire by discus throwing a handful of stones at them. At least they know I'm attacking back!

[@bro031]

I’m guessing their nest is in that big gumtree on the edge of the track and they only swoop from mid August to late September which is their breeding season and they become protective of their nesting sites.

[@garyclarke9685]

Your dead wrong it is now the last week of October & I'm still getting attacked left right & centre & expect too for a while yet & now I'm dealing with peewee birds

[@Steve-cc8zg]

If tomorrow there was suddenly a game expansion named "GTA V - Magpie edition", you'd be the one person playing, standing in the middle of an intersection with a minigun, mowing everything down with feathers. And I'd watch that stream.

[@jamesturner9858]

You should call them Heckle and Jeckle…. It’s a old school cartoon from the 60’s or 70’s about 2 magpies. Was very funny

[@Falkirion]

Every time I get swooped all I can think is "Must go faster"

[@johnhlee1181]

same color, speed, gopro's eye, wings? funniest bicycle video in this year !!

[@hailster1998]

Why I’m staying inside riding my smart trainer 😂😂

[@winnerplayzball]

I love how ur yelling eff off while u entered into their area on purpose! 😂😂😂

[@lonestar6709]

I sometimes think I'd like to live in Australia. Then I remember even the birds are trying to kill you! Rainy Blighty ain't so bad!

[@davidweisz3338]

Do Varia-like radars detect them? And does the flashing light deter them? So much science to be done!

[@Kim_Miller]

I have a flashing red light on the rear of my helmet and was swooped last week. Since then I've taped trailing ribbons of silver bird scare tape onto the helmet, which has been shown to limit how close they are prepared to swoop. Swoop season has just begun and will continue until Oct/November.

[@SantiLawson]

Maggies actually super cute dooodeess..they way their comes to you when feeding time..their wings so flaps and flaps happy for treat treat..

[@itsdeebs5156]

Kinda miss the old Bunninyong Bomber. Was great at going head on. Not seen him the last few years

[@dugldoo]

In the USA from Kansas to Texas and across the Gulf states we have similar pesky attacks from Mississippi kites (see KZbin, "Mississippi kite attacks"). They come at ya with their talons flashing. At such times I'm thankful for my cycling helmet.

[@KSmithwick1989]

Being from South Texas, good thing Caracara don't attack like this. They're basically hawks with a 4 ft wingspan and huge beaks.

[@neon3690]

You need a magpie radar.

[@uzi17]

would be good to see you try out some cable ties and other suggestions out there on helmet and test it here to see if they make any difference

[@kodrewmaxwell3580]

Jason Devlin, the ruthless animal hunter and the main villain of _Raccoons of the Forest,_ got his left eye pecked and blinded by a magpie who pecked his head. He survived, only to have a blind left eye and a scar over it.

[@JeremyLawrence-imajez]

Your best video yet.

[@kapuzinergruft]

Watch out for the dropping funnel web spiders, that is the dangerous bit 😢

[@CJ_JAMO]

We got on last year that swooped June-December, and that was not normal. I got hit hard and that one was extremely territorial

[@robertblacquiere9508]

I just noticed a “new” building next to the road. Maybe the builders disturbed the birds and now are super protective and attack any one near their nest or favorite tree.

[@michaelbigarelli2197]

Does a blinking light on your helmet deter them ? Impressive coordination

[@gplama]

No

[@byrnze1710]

Feel your pain mate! Some plovers double teamed me this morning.

[@throx]

Plovers are five times worse than Magpies.

[@Wllptr]

Does the meal worms help?

[@shelljw]

B1 & B2 were the names of my cats - not black cat 1 and black cat 2 but Bastard 1 & Bastard 2 lol

[@iffy_too4289]

Ive got googley eyes on the back of my helmets to try and put off the maggies. The only one that didnt care last year was the ferocious one outside Bendigo Tafe tradies campus

[@tryscience]

What's the best way to cook magpie pie?

[@plumbgray]

We have the same thing with Seagulls in the UK 🇬🇧

[@justincurran1309]

Be kind to those Magpies 🤣Not the Collingwood variety though!

[@seanl3668]

I waited all year for the famous GPLama magpie video xD

[@Aquaboy11]

We used to wear plastic ice cream containers with eyes drawn on the back ….. it worked Bahaha

[@alleywatch22]

When I was boy we encountered these magpies on the local golf course, hence the trusty 5 iron was swung around the head for protection.

[@KaushikNSanji]

Should try using Scarecrow on the back or on the helmet to check if it really works!

[@garyclarke9685]

Haha I actually use a magpie made of plastic

[@stephencharles6932]

We have a lovely family of magpies in our residence. Plus a few cats. You know when a cat is about, the noise of alarm calls and flying about and pestering th3 cats is huge and goes on and on until said cat moves along!

[@rickbeckner9906]

The birds!!! 🦅

[@Nae395]

Thanks Shane was attached today had both ears ripped apart , blood everywhere

[@davidfarquhar3917]

I think you just made it on to the BBC with a magpie video!

[@timspicer875]

Hilarious…great video..laughed our aloud but feel your pain mate ..you need to go back with some eyes drawn on your helmet to see if they are spooked

[@chrisquick7596]

I give em a spray with the water bottle over the shoulder, stops then right quick, also works for dogs

[@stephenbetley9596]

Tag Team Terror! Tabloid version.😀

[@mikeprytherch8875]

Shame it’s not up to us to get angry… you love getting angry 😂😂😂

[@jesikat]

What are those buttons on your helmet for?

[@gplama]

It has Bluetooth speakers/mic built into the helmet. Maybe I should short the battery across the entire helmet and zap these birds! (and zapping myself in the process.... for the 2nd time this week)

[@bustermot]

Makes me want to visit Australia.

[@olliegrave7229]

i rode at the end of October in canterbury nz, and i was getting swooped around 4 times an hour. it was the most horrible experience.

[@garyclarke9685]

You have my sympathy,they make my life a misery not for 1 not 2 but 3 months of the year then other varieties of birds get in on the action. I'm sick of it

[@crossroads4762]

I'll be riding that track again on my Melbourne to Adelaide ride this Xmas. Fond memories of 2017, zero magpies.

[@glennoc8585]

Magpies only swoop during breeding season so by December it would be rare to get swooped.

[@NoelSlevin]

Ah, it’s that time of year again.

[@chrizzymoorey11]

I, a UK Pom, love the Fluty Warble of the Auzzie Magpies compared to the harsh garble of our noisy Mahpies. I guess you either "love em or hate em"

[@nicholaskeur]

Anyone been done by Noisy Miners, Iv'e got one on my regular route that's as aggressive as magpies, and will come at you front on as well

[@sabaffira]

Shane, can you do this again with cable ties on your helmet?

[@gplama]

Maybe.

[@-P-Z-]

Had experienced magpie attack earlier today as well. Not as fierce though.

[@technocynic]

scary as they can be, the key thing is not to panic. someone died recently when they panicked and crashed. not the first time either. the magpie might draw blood but it won't kill you if you don't panic

[@gplama]

The ones that don’t make contact are fine. The full contact ones are harder to keep calm with. 🤣😱

[@technocynic]

@@gplama yeah, I said that for other people's benefit. you obviously know it as you boldly venture into the strike zone

[@brentsword2240]

And wear eye protection. A few years back a local person ended in hospital with eye damage (permeant i think) after being struck with claws. Note this was from a magpie that was begging for food aggressively after other people had started feeding it. So for all you who think feeding a wild animal is okay perhaps think again.

[@kymriley8619]

Trouble is when you don't know they are about.

[@u3962521]

why are there not road signs "warning magpie ahead" ?

[@user-tq3ud9zi7w]

I found that a red flashing LED on the back of the helmet stops them from making contact.

[@Kim_Miller]

I have a red flashing light on the rear of my helmet and was swooped and pecked on my ear last week. You must have better trained maggies. 🙂

[@rickbeckner9906]

Did they show up on your Varia??? 😂

[@gplama]

Nope :(

[@CarGuy77]

Jesus Imagine doing that while going to school… Yeah I had 5 of them at once

[@Bonmati14]

Just got swooped this morning went for a run. It never stopped chasing me lol. I have a cut on my left cheek but alive😅

[@ianomeara3963]

Riding out of little river there are 3 that sit and wait for you

[@jay6817]

That's a first for me. Never seen two of 'em go at people, and cyclic like they've strategised this in detail, and formed a successful partnership (as it's males). They must have tri fold the success of rearing their young.

[@juancagampang4620]

I know this sounds silly, but what about putting 'eyes' on the back of your helmet? They did essentially that in India and tiger attacks on people went down. I wish someone would try test this...I'm super curious.

[@lethal0000]

Yeah that works, or if you're brave enough to make eye contact with them yourself, most will not swoop.

[@dannisan77]

The magpies swoop because they're trying to defend their babies which is why they try to attack in the spring time that same time when raising their young ones.

[@seanbayley7452]

That's right they are actually being good parents in their eyes at least,the thing is only a small minority of Maggie's actually swoop as it is a learnt behaviour usually passed down the family line, it is on the increase though as it is a good tactic that keeps people away from their nests so they continue to do it, now being the smart birds that they are others see the success of the swooping tactic and do it themselves, and this is why the number of attacks are on the increase every year as it is a successful tactic for them to raise their chicks in peace.

[@andyg9991]

My helmet got hit so hard late last season I thought a branch fell out of a tree and hit me! When I looked at the Fly6 footage, the bastard took off out of a tree and then flew on the outside of the row of trees that lined the road and hit me 500m away from where he took off.

[@pookiesoupie]

that sounds wild! those birds most definitely pack a punch do they!

[@lexington476]

1:21 Star Wars reference :), B1 and B2 Battle Droids :).

[@timspicer875]

B1 and b2 are an Aussie reference to bananas in Pyjamas.. hilarious that it is a Star Wars ref too

[@Guest666RBLX_YT]

It's a double trouble!

[@gplama]

It's magpie mania! 🤣

[@Guest666RBLX_YT]

​@@gplama I guess 2 magpies are not really for joy

[@MrTripleXXX]

I only got swooped by a magpie once and it was when I was on my bike going through a park. I walk through that exact same park and they leave me alone. I think bikes kinda make magpies angry lol

[@glennoc8585]

That same magpie from previous years has recruited his family members to get that " guy off KZbin. Just when we get over this crappy winter the magpies come onboard.

[@renson326806]

That’d look great in slow motion

[@Kimberly_Sparkles]

When good Corvids go Magpie...

[@roleplaypomniaccount]

Double attacks!? Oh no! RIP

[@gplama]

First time I’ve ever had two of them attacking! Thankfully they’ve stopped for the season. 👌🏼

[@collectivesartori]

Already? Geez Ballarat Maggie’s don’t muck around…. 😳

[@markissboi3583]

Aussie air def these will scare them away if they get thru always the drop bears & fighting roos def xd

[@stevenbeck5746]

My 2 cent opinion is that swooping Magpies have gone Psychopathic. I have been amongst many many Magpies and they have been very friendly. Having said that I have been swooped by 2. One in the Blue Mountains. The other was rather strange. Living in Hillsdale , my wife worked in SouthPort Shopping Centre and she came home telling my that a magpie started swooping everyone at the entrance. So I went over and sure enough a magpie swooped but then flew on the lower branch of a tree. I just stared at it in the eyes and told it off. Never swooped anyone after that. LOL. Magpie Whisperer.

[@duanewalker8925]

They need magpies in Zwift to make it more realistic!

[@bobinjc]

It would be cool to see the Magpies attack in slow motion.

[@gplama]

I'll grab some footage at 120fps one day when the sun comes out.