McCrae resident’s plea for help as butcherbird repeatedly attacks
A “psychotic” bird with a high-pitched cackle is terrorising a McCrae community who say their pleas for help are being ignored.
South East
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A butcherbird with a “high pitched cackle and taste for blood” is terrorising a Mornington Peninsula neighbourhood.
Its latest victim had flesh gouged from his cheek and blood dripping from his nose after being repeatedly attacked on Monday while riding home from school.
The McCrae boy, 10, had already changed his route to school after previously being swooped by the bird.
But the switch didn’t fool the bird, which has been menacing his family and other neighbours since July.
Kerry Lambert said the bird had also taken a chunk out of her father’s cheek – close to his eye – ripped the glasses from the face of another local and hit others on the head countless times.
“It got him so high on the cheek bone, he could have lost his eye,” she said.
“I’ve been attacked as well.
“You hear this high pitched cackle just before it gets you.
“It sounds crazy, but it feels like it’s got it in for us, or has a taste for blood.”
The bird’s territory stretches across several blocks including Eddystone St, Bartels St, Catherine St, Point Nepean Rd and the foreshore.
Ms Lambert said she had sought help from the local council, Wildlife Victoria and private bird catchers but no one had any solutions.
“The answer is always along the lines of ‘It’s a native, it’s protected, nothing we can do.’,” she said.
“Basically, the rights of a bird are being prioritised over our safety.”
Ms Lambert was advised by a bird expert to expect the attacks to last until January.
Mornington Peninsula council and Wildlife Victorian have been contacted.
