Man dies after magpie attack

news.com.au. ^ | 05Sep03 | Tippy Hedren

[aculeus]

A ROGUE magpie has been captured and destroyed after fatally injuring one man and seriously injuring a tourist.

A Mildura man, 74, received severe eye injuries when a local magpie swooped from trees in the Victorian town. The man, who collapsed after the attack, died on Tuesday night at Melbourne's Royal Eye and Ear Hospital.

A South Korean tourist attacked by the same magpie was taken to hospital.

Department of Sustainability and Environment officers destroyed the magpie.

A coroner will investigate the man's death, the cause of which is still unknown.

Some Magpies swoop during the spring nesting season.

This report appears on news.com.au.

[aculeus]

Australia.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

They're all over the place here in California's Silicon Valley and Central Valley. My favorite birds-- as intelligent as crows, but instead of being all-the-time verbal like crows, they communicate with each other mostly through pantomime and play-acting. Fascinating to watch. They travel in large flocks and hold conventions on our front lawn.

And now this.

Bill Clinton's gotta be to blame, somehow...

[Maceman]

[Lady Jag]

[nwrep]

Did Tippy Hedren (Melanie Griffith's mom and of Birds fame) really write this?

[nwrep]

[A. Morgan]

http://www.step-hen.com/magpie.htm

[Dog Gone]

Audio of the actual attack

[Who dat?]

Jeez… how big is a Magpie in Austrailia?

The only person I ever saw that was really worried about a bird was a researcher that was trying to weigh Harpy chicks in South America. He climbed way up in a tree to weigh it and he was wearing a motorcycle helmet and some sort of flak jacket. Evidently Ms. Harpy gets upset if she catches you messing with her chick. They’re also big enough to take fully grown monkeys from the treetops.

[moehoward]

[rdb3]

I didn't know Heckle and Jeckle were dangerous.

[aculeus]

Did Tippy Hedren (Melanie Griffith's mom and of Birds fame) really write this?

Are you accusing a fellow Freeper of fabricating bylines?

How dare you!

[verity]

This thread is for the birds!

[moehoward]

[BonnieJ]

When I lived in Ireland they were always warning me about magpies, they were certain they brought bad luck. Some think Cromwell brought them over! They really are unique birds, quite attractive and comical.

[cardinal4]

I didn't know Heckle and Jeckle were dangerous.

I dont remember them being dangerous, just really mean...and very funny!

[Lady Jag]

Squawk! Polly can do that! Polly can do that!

[Porterville]

Gotta get out the .22 and shoot some birds off the telephone lines, helps control the local population. Oh, they don't have pee-shooters in Australia?? I guess they can throw their didgeridoo up at them.

[MEG33]

I looked up the Australian magpie.This is their nesting time and they will swoop down on whatever they consider a threat(mockingbirds do this).I still can't believe the bird really hurt him.

[dighton]

Are you accusing a fellow Freeper of fabricating bylines? How dare you!

The Tabloidian family shares your outrage.