Cyclist attacked by magpie, almost loses eye

Swooping season is here as many report injuries from the winged devils, including a cyclist who needed eye surgery.

Swooping season is well underway as optometrists are warning people to be careful after a magpie attack left a man needing major eye surgery.

Back in 2021, Christiaan Nyssen was cycling in Yarrawonga when he was swooped. This was one of the few times he had cycled without his sunglasses.

Mr Nyssen told the ABC that this wasn’t his first time being attacked by a magpie.

“I have been attacked countless times and don’t have a fear of the birds, but I always have glasses on,” he said.

“This bird turned around and went straight for the eye, did a backflip and hit me right in the eye again.

“A neighbour said I was the fifth person to be attacked.”

Retiree Christiaan Nyssen and his wife Sandra. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The attack left Mr Nyssen with an iris trauma, a detached retina and a cataract with instability.

In one of his surgeries, Mr Nyssen required an intraocular lens from the US and was the first of its kind in Victoria.

Mr Nyssen made a full recovery in part thanks to eye surgeon, Dr Elvis Ojaimi.

“This [prosthetic eye] is the first one in Victoria, within about four to six weeks he was seeing very well,” Dr Ojaimi told 9news.com.au.

When it came to ensuring adequate protection against any future eye injuries from swooping, Dr Ojaimi stressed the importance of sunglasses.

“I think sunglasses, particularly wraparound sunglasses, are very important,” he said.

Swooping season started early this year, with reports coming out last month of people getting attacked.

What gets them riled up is purely a protective instinct.

Magpies never forget a face. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

When a human or an animal passes by their nest, they’re considered a threat to their young, something that Professor Darryl Jones from Griffith University says is normal.

“Those that do (swoop) are trying to keep people – and anything that they regard as a threat to their chicks – away from the babies,” he told news.com.au.

“Swooping is therefore a kind of anti-predator behaviour, so they mean business.”

Magpies usually conduct their swooping within a three-week period and typically stick within 100km of their nest.

A magpie never forgets

It has also been proven that magpies have an excellent memory, so one of the top tips to avoid being swooped is to make friends with them outside of swooping season, something many on Reddit agree on.

“I waltz right into their territory and feed them. My babies won’t swoop me. You lot haven’t been paying your dues this year, hopefully a good swooping will set you right for next year,” one user wrote.

“I’ve spent the last few months becoming friends with the ones around my house because there’s so many in my area. I’m now apparently a daycare and see their little ones in my yard multiple times a day now,” another wrote.

One person summed up the best way to remain on the bird’s good side in one sentence: “Pay the magpie tax early and often.”

Aussies can use the Magpie Alert website to find which areas to steer clear of and report any attacks.