Australia has a ‘swooping season’
every fall where residents have to
dodge a multitude of magpies that
aggressively protect their nests
by dive-bombing anything and
everything in their vicinity. SourceSource 2
@leftnotright you better confirm this, i actually like magpies…. so far
@plunnybreeder Tis true, tis true. I have been attacked and so has my father, he had a scar on his neck from a rather courageous one! Fun times in Australia.
*groans* Just when I thought swans were the worsts (and also badass and prettiest), here come the lil’ hellspawns from the sky. Oh well. I still like you guys.
and @blackkatmagic is this what you had in mind for Itama in “One is for Sorrow”?
Actually, no! Australian magpies are a type of butcherbird, while European magpies (what Itama becomes) are a type of corvid, like crows. It was tempting to make him an Australian magpie, because they’re terrifying, but the corvid magpies are one of the smartest birds in the world. And also corvids, which makes them just as scary lbr.
It’s hard to imagine. I mean, here, these birds are notorious for snatching anything shiny that’s not nailed down, but actually attacking people?!
@stereden yep. We resort to wearing zipties all over our bike helmets to discourage them from swooping:
this is a real thing
it’s totally, utterly normal and accepted
Swooping season lasts for all of Spring, generally (Late August to October…ish) – so, your Autumn-time, our Springtime… when the birds begin breeding
people have been known to get creative
because our Aussie magpies are actual murderbirds that are twice the size of a European magpie, and can punch their beaks through your goddamn hand. Seriously, look at this beak ok
they are NOT clever lil collecting corvids, they’re big strong (and noisy…!) butcherbirds. Most of the year they are chill and leave you alone. Their song is actually really nice.
but once a year they go into ATTACK MODE: KILL ANYTHING THAT MOVES EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO MY NEST. KILL IT GOOD AND DEAD.
Swooping Season: Just Say Arrrghfuckshitnohelpit’saftermeit’sfuckingafterme
Aw Yiss 