Manic magpie mauls man

Locals are warned to avoid the area.

A magpie is terrorising the streets of Te Puke.

Willie Jarvis, a resident at Boucher St, says he has been attacked by a magpie twice on his daily walks.

He says he was first attacked on Wednesday.

'There's a house near Cameron Road I pass on my daily walk. I could hear this noise which sounded like a puppy crying.

'I was looking to see where the puppy was and if it was tied up, and I realised it was a magpie up in a TV aerial.

'As soon as I noticed it he decided he was going to sort me right out. He flew down, attacked me and I managed to bat him off and go home.

'The next day I returned to the same area and it happened again, only this time the bird actually hit me in the back of the head.”

He says he isn't the only one who has fallen victim.

'The second time this happened there was actually another woman walking in the same area on the opposite side of the road.

'I said to her to be careful because magpies are attacking and next minute, it had a go at her too.”

He says neither Western Bay of Plenty Council or Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been able to help.

'Because it's on private property rather than in a park or reserve regional council has said they can't send anyone out, but they have recommended I warn people away from the area.”

Willie thinks the birds may be nesting.

'I've done some research on magpies and I've discovered they can be quite territorial and aggressive while they are nesting.

'They are smart birds, if they see your face once they will remember you the next time they see you.”

He's warning other members of public to steer clear of the area.

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7 comments

Possible solution

Posted on 22-01-2018 12:08 | By penguin

Carry a light stick 30-40mm long. When the magpie dives, hold the stick up above/ behind your head and the bird will likely go for the stick and not your head. Works most of the time. Magpies are territorial so it becomes a bit of a battle of wits. Scary stuff when cultivating and operating a cab-less tractor!


Magpie

Posted on 22-01-2018 13:17 | By Pensioner

Maybe someone other than the Council (seeing as how they won't ask the owner of the house) could remove the Australian pest bird. There are traps available. Feed it some cat biscuits. Catch it, dispose of it. Problem solved.


Vermin

Posted on 22-01-2018 13:41 | By bigal

Cricket bat?


they are magpies

Posted on 22-01-2018 13:43 | By Capt_Kaveman

catch it as it comes down and break its neck, it is legal to kill magpies


Correction!

Posted on 22-01-2018 17:34 | By penguin

The length of the stick should have been written as 30-40 cm (or longer if convenient)!


Clever

Posted on 23-01-2018 07:40 | By Effie

I heard an 'expert' on tv advise to back off and try not to upset them the first time you encounter one, even if you have to turn around and leave. They will remember that you respected their territory. Next time you want to pass, they should let you. But if you end up getting attacked first time, you are forever a target. I have played a magpie distress call on a loud speaker near magpies. They get quite excited by it and have to investigate. It could help trap them for disposal. Use a cage trap and put a Bluetooth speaker inside it.


Awwwwww...

Posted on 28-01-2018 23:14 | By GreertonBoy

Look at the cute little birdy.... loook... butter wouldn't melt in its mouth .... lol. A friend at Whakamarama had a pet one, it was cranky too... would run around snapping its beak at you lol (the bird, not my friend)


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