Butcherbird terrorising innocent cyclists and commuters at Concord West station

THE mad butcherbird of Concord West will strike when you least expect it — and these cyclist have the scratches to prove it.

Cyclist Wayne Thompson with Nicola Rutzou after being attack by a butcherbird in King st Concord West last week.

THE mad butcherbird of Concord West will strike when you least expect it — and Nicola Rutzou has the scratches to prove it.

Terrorising cyclists and commuters on the King St side of Concord West station, the bird is protecting a nest in the nearby area.

Ms Rutzou said her first encounter with the bloodthirsty bird was last Monday morning.

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Wayne Thompson after the butcherbird attack.

Ethan Doughty is another butcherbird victim.

“I was riding along enjoying the beautiful day, when bang, it hit me from behind quite hard across my chin and drew blood from three separate small cuts,” Ms Rutzou said.

“I got home and posted a photo on Facebook and was besieged by comments from fellow cyclists who have been victim to the same vicious bird.”

She said she reported the bird to Canada Bay Council but to no avail.

“I was surprised to hear that they won’t do anything about birds,” she said. “So the vicious butcherbird will continue to wreak havoc on cyclists and others throughout spring.”

A spokeswoman for the council confirmed it had no control over native birds. However, an official from the National Parks and Wildlife Service said control of birds was up to individual councils.

The butcherbird is at large at Concord West station.

With bird nesting season now in full swing, a WIRES spokesman said that native birds should not be relocated­.

“Eggs will fail to hatch or the young will die of starvation and exposure without their parents,” he said.

SAFETY TIPS

■ A WIRES spokesman said the best way to prevent swooping birds was to wear a hat and if possible carry an umbrella.

■ “Do not stop if you are swooped upon,” he said. “You are still in the magpie’s territory and therefore they will keep swooping at you. Walk quickly until you are out of the area.”