Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Two words come to mind, and they are STEGOSAURUS HEAD

Lots of people around here take the dorky approach to deterring magpie attacks.


Every spring I mean to take a picture of this and forget, so this year I've settled for the shameless-theft-from-someone-else's-blog approach (credit for photo to Toowoomba Bicycle Users Group Blog).

Stylish as these cable ties are, I've always been a little too self conscious to try them myself.

This year, however, prime magpie swooping territory is (a) the lower half of my street, (b) the service station where I fill up my bike tyres, (c) the main crossing to university, and (d) the road near the building where I go for various seminars and meetings. This means I sometimes get swooped six times in one day.

You won't lose respect for me if I go the scary spiky route, will you now? Right? Right???

5 Comments:

Bardiac said...

I won't lose respect, but I can't help wondering how those do if you fall on your head?

Personally, I'd love to see you build a giant raptor on the top of your helm, as in pictures of the days of yore. Heck, build the wings big enough and bike fast enough, and you might even get lift off!

Anonymous said...

I just have to say that this is completely AWESOME. (Australian customs I knew nothing about!)

Ianqui said...

As long as it works, you're forgiven.

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

Anything goes when it comes to fending off bird swoops. Barely any magpies here, but the crows make up for it... my old apartment had a nest right over the path up to the front door, it was a nightmare during nesting season. My approach was to start swinging a noisy plastic bag around my head as soon as I stepped outside. I've never been attacked on my bike though.

Joanna said...

I've been wondering what the hell those were for - now I know :)