In the Australian state of New South Wales, a 76-year-old man died after being attacked by a bird and losing control of his bicycle.
The man was on Sunday morning at the Nicholson Park in Woonona, which is a suburb of Wollongong, which is located about 90 kilometers south of Sydney. During his bike tour he was attacked by a so-called flute bird (magpie). The animals are known to aggressively defend their nests. They also attack cyclists, joggers and pedestrians.
The police in New South Wales are now citing eyewitnesses that the cyclist in Woonona has tried to avoid the bird. He came off the road, bounced against a fence post and crashed to the ground, according to the authorities. He suffered serious injuries to his head. In the evening he died in a hospital. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reports that the 76-year-old was wearing a cycling helmet.
The breeding season of the flute birds lasts from August to October. During this time, the reports of attacks pile up in Australia. For example, cyclists are encouraged to attach cable ties to their helmets to deter the animals. On the website magpiealert.com, the exact location and circumstances of an attack can be published (read an interview with the founder of the site here).
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