Attack of the angry birds: SA’s magpie swooping hotspots revealed

Spring has sprung and the magpies, noisy miners and plovers are swooping. It comes every year – but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying. See the hotspots.

At Hallett Cove, the hairs rise on the back of cyclists’ necks whenever they ride into the territory of The Dutchman.

That’s the moniker given to a particularly hostile magpie which, in springtime, attacks anyone on two wheels who dares to pedal down Dutchman Drive.

Darren Sharman, a resident of 15 years, said he had seen cyclists being swooped every day this month.

“It’s honestly almost an hourly occurrence. I can always hear people carrying on as they get done in,” Mr Sharman said.

“He sits on the light pole and dives down on any cyclists. Something about the shiny helmet must attract them.

“They don’t mind you if you’re walking past but as soon as you’re on a bike they go for you; posties, too. It’s not surprising that there’s been injuries because they aim for just below the helmet to hit their necks.”

Residents in swooping hotspots claim it’s the worst spring they can recall when it comes to the winged terrors.

The Magpie alert! website, where the public can log the avian encounters, has had six ­reports of attacks on Dutchman Drive – four resulting in injuries.

There have been 11 reports of attacks along the tram line on Glengyle Tce, Glandore, and eight in Giles St at Toorak Gardens.

Magpie attacks across South Australia are mapped on magpiealert.com.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIVE MAP AT MAGPIEALERT.COM

Dan and Gen Moss have lived at their Glengyle Tce home for five years and say the cries of terror from victims outside their houses have been more frequent than ever.

“I think it’s just one bird here. We call him Maggie, he’s a big boy,” Mr Moss said.

“Signs have been put up to warn cyclists but it hasn’t bothered Maggie and they’re not actually on the cycling trail.”

Dan Moss with his son at Glengyle Tce, Glandore – a high-frequency spot for magpie attacks. Mr Moss and his family regularly see cyclists swooped on the bike trail along the tram line. Picture: Jason Katsaras

Last month national experts warned there would likely be more attacks this spring than usual due to the prevalence of masks.

They said magpies could recognise faces, so stopped swooping regular passers-by once they realised they posed no threat. But masks prevented the birds from distinguishing between regulars and others they had not encountered.