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Vicious magpies launch thousands of attacks across Australia - but mystery surrounds why the birds don't swoop in one state

Magpies have been shown to swoop all over Australia but mystery surrounds why they rarely attack in Tasmania. 

A brutal magpie attack on businessman James Glindemann, 68, in eastern Victoria on Tuesday prompted discussions about the birds in Australia's southernmost state.  

Urban myths have suggested Tasmanian magpies don't swoop at all, while experts theorised the birds could be less aggressive or less stressed by people.    

Magpie attacks (Australian magpie swooping pictured) occur across all of Australia but mystery surrounds why magpie swooping is far more rare in Tasmania

Magpie attacks (Australian magpie swooping pictured) occur across all of Australia but mystery surrounds why magpie swooping is far more rare in Tasmania 

The national Magpie Alert website (map pictured above) showed 4,272 magpie attacks were reported so far this year but only one had been identified by a cyclist in Hobart

The national Magpie Alert website (map pictured above) showed 4,272 magpie attacks were reported so far this year but only one had been identified by a cyclist in Hobart 

Ben Fordham discussed the Tasmanian magpie legend on 2GB radio on Monday morning. 

'Over the weekend a mate of mine by the name of Bruno claimed that in Tasmania magpies don't swoop and I thought "this is another Bruno classic fib, or a made up tale",' he said. 

'Well it turns out he's right. We've checked it out and it's true. 

'No one knows why. Of the 3000 reported attacks in 2019, only one is listed from Tasmania and according to Tassies, they don't swoop in Tasmania.' 

Only one Tasmanian magpie attack has been reported to the national Magpie Alert website in 2020.

A cyclist in Hobart made the entry on October 6.     

'Cheeky bugger swooped twice as I was riding ... Didn't make contact but clicked beak loudly a few times,' the man warned.   

The website reported 4,272 magpie attacks and 541 injuries across the country so far this year. 

James Glindemann, 68 (pictured) was viciously attacked by a magpie while sitting on a park bench eating his lunch in Sale, in eastern Victoria, on Tuesday

James Glindemann, 68 was viciously attacked by a magpie while sitting on a park bench eating his lunch in Sale, in eastern Victoria, on Tuesday

The aggressive magpie clawed Mr Glindemann (pictured above) on both of his eyes

The aggressive magpie clawed Mr Glindemann (pictured above) on both of his eyes 

BirdLife Tasmania ornithologist Eric Woehler said magpies in Tasmania did swoop but to a lesser extent.   

'We've known for many, many years that our birds aren't aggressive like the mainland ones,' he told ABC.   

'Whether it's just simply that they are a bit more chill down here and a bit less stressed about people or that they don't breed close to people, which brings out this defence behaviour, we don't know.

'When we have had records in the past of kids being swooped it turns out the kids were throwing rocks at them or something and the birds are simply being aggravated rather than it being a natural behaviour.'    

Experts suggested magpie swoopings (pictured above) could be less common in Tasmania because the birds are less aggressive or less stressed about people

Experts suggested magpie swoopings (pictured above) could be less common in Tasmania because the birds are less aggressive or less stressed about people 

The brutal attack on Mr Glindemann saw the businessman hit in both eyes by a vicious magpie.    

Mr Glindemann was sitting on a park bench eating Chinese takeaway for lunch when the bird appeared at his feet. 

'It looked at me and I didn't give it any food, so it just attacked me,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 

'First it struck my left eye and when it landed back on the ground, I didn't drop my food and so it attacked me again in the right eye.'

He was driven to Central Gippsland Hospital by ambulance before being flown to Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne.

He underwent surgery on his left eye because the bird had penetrated his cornea. 

HOW TO AVOID BEING SWOOPED BY A MAGPIE 

 *If you are swooped while riding, get off of your bike as many injuries are caused in falls during an attack.

*Keep an ear open for their distinctive warble

* Stay still and calm to provoke a further attack.

*Wear sunglasses and large wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and eyes.

*Face the magpie as they tend to attack from behind. Keep facing the bird as you walk out of their territory to avoid be swooped as soon as you look away.

Source: Magpie Alert 

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