A man says he has a magpie ‘nemesis’ – after the territorial bird singled him and attacked him every day after work.

Alejandro Ríos, 25, says he was the target of the swooping bird for several days.

As he cycled home from work the bird swooped down to chase him and peck at his head covered by a helmet.

Alejandro moved to Brisbane, Australia, in March and the rivalry began on September 20.

He was returning from his job as a kitchen hand at a catering company.

At first Alejandro didn’t realise he had become the target of a divebombing magpie.

He said: ‘I take the same street to get home every day. The first time I felt something knock at my head.

‘I was a bit worried. I didn’t know what had happened. I thought a piece of fruit had fallen off a tree or someone had hit me.

‘I had no idea what was happening.’

After a few attacks from the bird, Alejandro learnt to find the humour in being assailed even though he feared for his eyes.

Alejandro said: ‘I was only really worried the first time. By the end it was funny because I knew it was coming.

‘I still made sure that I could stop it from getting at my eyes.’

Magpies are well known for their ability to recognise and remember human faces.

A study by Dr Darryl Jones at Griffith University found that the territorial birds even remember and target specific people.

Alejandro, who is from Cali in Colombia, said the bird singles him out and did not attack other passers-by or cyclists.

He explained: ‘I’ve read that magpies recognise faces.

‘I thought it hated me because I was on a bike but then I saw it let other cyclists pass with no issue.’

Alejandro considers the bird his nemesis but he is good-natured about the rivalry even though the bird is out for his blood.

He said: ‘It’s a bit of a friend and a bit of a nemesis. I love animals so I want to say it’s my friend but it really, really hates me.’

After a week or so of the battle, Alejandro was able to beat the bird by putting zip ties on his helmet.

He said: ‘Now I have zip-ties to protect me so it’s leaving me alone. I still see him on the road waiting, though.’

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Tom Sanders

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