Page 22 - Magazine - Issue 1 - Google Docs_Neat
P. 22

How   can   you   protect   yourself?






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            There  are  ots  of  ways  to  keep  safe  n  magpie  season.  Because  magpies  are






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              very  ntelligent  they  remember  you  f  you  have  been  n  that  area  before.
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                          Here  are  some  tips  to  help  trying  not  to  get  swooped:








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                         ● Wearing  spikes  on  your  helmet,  f  you  are  riding  a  bike.







                     ● Travel  n  groups,  as  magpies  usually  only  target  ndividuals.


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                                  ● Carry  an  open  umbrella  above  your  head.



                                 ● Wear  sunglasses  and  a  broad-brimmed  hat.







                 ● If  you  know  of  an  area  that  has  swooping  magpies,  put  a  sign  up  to










                                                     warn  passers-by.



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                  But  what  can  you  do  to  protect  yourself  f  you  are  being  attacked  by  a







                       magpie?  Don’t  scream,  run  away,  wave  your  arms  or  shout.  The












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                    magpies  will  see  you  as  a  threat  to  the  nest,  and  not  ust  this  year,







                     but  for  up  to  five  years  to  come.  Quickly  walking  away,  but  not  too














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                  fast.  Looking  at  them  n  the  eye  will  help  make  them  know  that  you  are












                                          bigger  and  scarier  than  they  are.














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                  So,  as    tried  to  stare  at  the  magpie  and  hold  on  to  my  bike  one  handed.










                       I  remember  that  magpies  aren’t  that  unpleasant,  annoying  and



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                     troublesome  birds  that  ots  of  people  think  they  are.  They  are  ust












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                   trying  to  protect  their  babies,  ust  ike  any  human  parents  would  do.



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                   think  to  myself  as    ride  past  the  magpie’s  tree  and  enjoy  the  smell  of









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                                                           spring.
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