Incoming, six o’clock! The aggressor turns into a steep dive, locking quickly onto its perceived enemy. Its victim increases speed, desperately dodging and weaving, but the smaller fighter flies in like a bullet, manoeuvring expertly and delivering its first attack. Its machine-gun beak clacks “rat-tat-tat-tat-tat” as it veers just centimetres from its victim, then soars into the sky and banks for its next attack. Next time, there will be blood.
SWOOPING season is back with a vengeance as hormonal magpies are determined to defend their nests. I should know I’ve been swooped… repeatedly!!
Did you know research shows that sometimes swooping magpies target specific individuals – repeatedly attacking one person in a family and leaving the rest alone. They have long-term memories so can continue attacking an individual years later. GREAT!!! .
I’ve changed my morning walking route several times and no matter where I walk, those swooping dive bombers are there… waiting, watching, daring me to step into their territory. Then they swoop me – EVERYDAY.
I love birds and all, but maybe Alfred Hitchcock was onto something. From now on, (or for the next 6 weeks at least) it’s a morning yoga session for me in the safety of my own home.