Beware: Magpie season!

The warm Spring weather is back, and I sense the scary magpie breeding season approaching. 'Scary' because they keep watch and attack anything that appears to encroach on their territory.

I was walking home from the station one fine September day, and as I emerged from the tree cover a crazy magpie that lived in a gum tree in our neighbour's yard came after me, several times. I ran for the house as fast as my legs could carry me but that wasn't fast enough. The second time it swooped down, it smacked me on the head! Thank goodness our house was just around the corner. I ran for my life but that didn't stop the clever creature. It came at me again! There was only minor bleeding, but boy was that a frightening experience. After that, our neighbour called for help on having the nest relocated into the bush or something. Nevertheless, I always make sure I wear a hat or carry an umbrella when walking down that stretch of road. Apparently, magpies tend to go for the eyes, so someone came up with the idea of wearing an ice-cream bucket on your head with eyes drawn on the back. I wonder if anyone actually tried it...

I also remember almost being hit by a miner bird. I was in primary school at the time, and Mum had dropped me off near the driveway of the staff carpark. The school is also called 'The Bush School' because it was like being in the forest. That carpark and the driveway leading to it was surrounded by trees and was miner bird territory in the Spring. More than one kid was hurt by a bird there. So the lesson is, my friends, to "slap on a hat" - especially in September!