A man in New South Wales has died after attempt to skirt an attack from a magpie , cross off an especially tragic start to Australia ’s yearly " swoop time of year . "
The 76 - year - old man was depend upon his bike in Nicholson Park in Wollongong , a coastal city to the south of Sydney , on the morning of Sunday , September 15 . According toa statementfromNew South Wales authorities , witnesses run into the man ride off the park ’s path after a babbler swooped down in front of him , get him to clash with a fence post and come down to the earth .
He was airlift to St George Hospital in a critical condition where he received aesculapian attention but died later on that evening as a result of serious head injury .
While this might voice like an inauspicious stroke , Australia is no unknown to the trouble get by belligerent spouter .
The hoot referred to asmagpies in Australiaare in reality a freestanding metal money from those found in the wide-eyed earth . With a distinctive white-hot beak that differentiate the species from most others , the male are notoriously fast-growing and territorial during mating time of year , typically using this “ swoop ” technique to keep fauna aside from their nest . Since they are often found in urban and suburban expanse , they frequently ply into contact with humans .
This class ’s “ swoop up season ” has been notably earlier than in former years , animal behavior expert Professor Gisela Kaplan told7 News Australia . prater are most aggressive during spring , around September and October , however , the behavior has spiked earlier this class follow anunseasonably fond wintertime .
The websiteMagpie Alertkeeps tabs on magpie swooping attacks across Australia . So far this year , they have documented over 1,750 magpie attacks and 210 injury . Most of these harm lie in of scratches to the head and face from the birds ' schnozzle .
If you populate down under and want to avoid magpie attempt , it ’s suggested you forefend magpie nesting areas and even plan alternative routes if necessary . Experts also recommend people jaunt in groups because the bird often aim individuals , especially cyclists .
“ Magpies seem to have very good memories and have attacked the same hoi polloi over subsequent seasons and others they just leave alone , ” Magpie Alert writeon their web site . “ If it ’s attack you before [ it ’s ] probably a serious mind to use an alternative path next season ! ”
