Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Angry Bird in Oregon?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Angry Bird in Oregon?

Old 07-04-11, 11:41 AM
  #1  
Mike F
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Mike F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,181

Bikes: 2017 Specilized Roubaix, 2012 Scott CR1 Team, Felt Z85

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 2 Posts
Angry Bird in Oregon?

Anybody from the '41'? I thought bee's were bad enough..

PENDLETON, Ore. — Bicyclists in eastern Oregon say they're getting whacked on the head by an angry bird.

Riders in Pendleton, Ore., told the East Oregonian that a male hawk is dive-bombing them because they're too close to a nest he's guarding in an old cottonwood tree.

Bicyclist Mack Temple says the bird came in from behind like a fighter plane and whacked his helmet. Another rider, Charlie Newhouse, says the attack on his helmet was "like getting hit with a baseball bat." He says the talons went in through the helmet.

Bird-watchers say the large bird is a Swainson's hawk. The riders say he's been vigilant for a few nesting seasons, but hasn't been as aggressive as this year.

Bird-watchers say the hawk will ease up once his brood learns to fly.
Mike F is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 11:49 AM
  #2  
55/Rad
Former Hoarder
 
55/Rad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Portland & Yachats, OR
Posts: 11,735

Bikes: Seven Axiom, Felt Z1, Dave Moulton Fuso

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
I rode through Pendleton 2 summers ago and saw this happen to another person on our ride. Surprised the beejeebers out of all of us who saw it...dang thing seemed so large. Victim was fine and we watched the bird circle above as we rode away. He only dove once.
__________________
55/Rad is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 12:06 PM
  #3  
mpath
Recusant Iconoclast
 
mpath's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
Posts: 2,560

Bikes: Look 695, Wilier Izoard

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 247 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 29 Posts
Thought you were talking about a new Apple app....Angry Birds in Oregon.
mpath is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 09:17 PM
  #4  
Machka 
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Sounds like September in Australia when the magpies become agressive.

In September here, a person can be dive-bombed by the magpies numerous times during a ride ... and there's a particularly agressive bird at an intersection on one of our favourite routes. That one will get us coming and going.
Machka is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 10:49 PM
  #5  
Nachoman
well hello there
 
Nachoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 334 Times in 206 Posts
If you can't out run it, I suggest standing your ground with a tennis racket.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 11:07 PM
  #6  
Camel
Caffeinated.
 
Camel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Waltham, MA
Posts: 1,541

Bikes: Waterford 1900, Quintana Roo Borrego, Trek 8700zx, Bianchi Pista Concept

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It would be pretty scary to get attacked, especially if you had no idea it was coming.

If I recall correctly a fellow was divebombed by a hawk while walking around MIT recently. He allmost lost an eye. They have since cordoned off quite a bit of space to set the bird a bit at ease.
Camel is offline  
Old 07-04-11, 11:58 PM
  #7  
Northwestrider
Senior Member
 
Northwestrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 2,470

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've been strafed by a few small birds, but unable to identify them. It is unnerving, as it is a complete surprise
Northwestrider is offline  
Old 07-05-11, 02:26 AM
  #8  
Machka 
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by Camel
It would be pretty scary to get attacked, especially if you had no idea it was coming.
It is ... and our magpies are reasonably large birds. Most of them swoop down and fly just above our heads, centimeters above our helmets, and they snap their beaks with a loud cracking sound. But some of them nail us on the helmet, neck, side of the face, etc.. They can dislodge a helmet and can draw blood.
Machka is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Rubble
Fifty Plus (50+)
30
08-14-16 03:32 PM
Shuffleman
Road Cycling
13
10-28-15 11:58 AM
iab
Classic & Vintage
15
05-29-12 06:50 AM
work4bike
Pacific Northwest
5
07-15-11 01:00 PM
whitemax
Road Cycling
98
04-16-10 07:12 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.