Man’s anti-magpie helmet is absolute genius
We’ve all been swooped by a magpie at one point or another, and while it can be a nerve-racking experience most of us just dust ourselves off and get on with our day.
But not this man.
Oncologist Dr Richard Osborne from Hervey Bay, Queensland, had been dealing with these birds for years before he woke up one day and said “enough is enough”, creating the genius helmet that’s turned him into an internet sensation.
His simple anti-magpie helmet, that he’s shared on Facebook, combines a standard issue helmet with party poppers and a garden hose. Whenever Dr Osborne sees a magpie that looks like it’s going to swoop he simply blows into the nozzle.
As you can see from the video below, it’s quite effective:
Dr Osbourne has since posted a better look at the helmet’s design on Facebook, with the caption, “Bring it on magpies”. You can tell that he means business.
Interestingly, there’s been a marked increase in the rate of magpies attacking cyclists in recent months, with one hospital reporting 12 injuries in August.
Do you have a tactic for avoiding swooping magpies? Let us know in the comments below.