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Buzzard Image by Flickr user leppreBuzzard attacks cyclist in Northern Ireland
While most cyclists will have been chased by a dog at least once, few can claim to have been attacked by a buzzard.
However, that is exactly what happened to James Curry, of Banbridge Cycling Club, when, cycling near Banbridge, Northern Ireland, last week, a buzzard landed on his helmet and dug its talons in.
It is believed the bird, who has also apparently attacked another cyclist twice, is simply protecting its chicks, which have hatched late this year.
Curry told the Dromore Leader "I was just cycling down the road and this big bird slapped me on the back of the head."
“It was massive. I didn’t expect it to be honest. It used my helmet as a landing spot and ripped into it.
“Then I shouted at it and thankfully it flew off, although its wing hit me on the shoulder as it did.”
He said: “If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I could have been badly hurt.
“The bird is huge. It has quite a small body but its wings are as big as your arms and its beak is massive.”
Steven Lindsay, of Dromore Cycling Club, has been warned off by the bird on two consecutive mornings.
He told the Dromore Leader: "On the first morning, I was hit at the top of the rise after turning onto the Drumneath Road off the Castlewellan Road."
"The next morning I was cycling along the Drumneath Road before the Quarry Road junction when I received a blow to the head again.
"I’ve been chased by dogs and abused by motorists but I never thought I’d be attacked by a bird."
The raptors, which can live for 25 years, weigh between 0.4-1.4kg, with razor sharp claws, so can cause significant damage if they dive and attack.
Eimear Rooney, from the NI Raptor Study Group, has warned cyclists to stay away for the next fortnight. “This pair has nested quite late and so the chicks have just hatched,” she explained.
“At the minute, the female is staying near the nest to protect the chicks but that will stop after the next two weeks. The chicks will be old enough to stay on their own and the mother will be away hunting.”
Rooney pointed out it is illegal to disturb birds of prey during nesting season and has urged locals not to take matters into their own hands, but call Northern Ireland's Environment Agency on 028 9056 9605 with concerns.
Buzzard attacks are rare but not unprecedented. In 2013 one cyclist was attacked three times in two days by a buzzard in Scotland, which was also aiming for the head. A local wildlife ranger at the time believed "they have a thing for cyclists".
In the mid-2000s a repeat offender in Devon attacked cyclists on a number of occasions, causing puncture wounds to riders' heads. CTC Devon dedicated a page to the "Mad Buzzard".
In Australia it's the magpies cyclists have to watch out for. It's estimated 90% of men and 72% of women in Australia have been attacked by an Aussie magpie.
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
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21 comments
Like Joeinpoole, I too usually don't wear a helmet and have never been harried by buzzards. Even though I do regularly cycle country lanes 10 miles south of Glasgow (the Jackton / Ardochrig lanes perhaps, Halfwheeler?).
Clearly, helmets *cause* buzzard attacks - in addition to increased risk of neck injuries in crashes. Yet another reason not wear them. Clearly.
It's a fair cop, i'll not fight the statistics. I guess it's even worse than merely causing them then, as you also provide more leverage than just a fleshy head - probably find the incidence of neck injuries are higher. Damn you science.
Aye, plenty of Buzzards round those lanes and often some deers early in the morning, leaping over fences into roads like they own the place.
Certainly an incentive to up your average speed...
But if the bird don't want you around, just stay away, or train a couple of crows to tail you...or a squadron of magpies.
I've seen the magpies around by me chase cats who where hiding under cars away.
There's a notorious bike-hating buzzard near Parton in Dumfries and Galloway, a good place for buzzards, ospreys, kites and even hen harriers.
I've never worn a cycling helmet and have *never* been attacked by raptors of any kind. Co-incidence? I think not!!!
I been dive bombed by buzzards twice, on the same road a year apart.
It was on a little deserted single track road about ten miles south of Glasgow. I saw it's shadow first getting closer and closer, I looked up to see this huge lump of animal making a beeline for me.
I stopped coz it was getting too dangerous trying to keep my eyes on this thing and the road at the same time. Big mistake. I was now a sitting target. It dive bombed me at least a half dozen times, every time it came within 10 feet of me I had to lift my bike above my head to protect myself while screaming blue murder at it.
Not a winning look.
Eventually it got bored and flew off and I was able to sprint up the hill and get away.
The second time was the exact same road and time of year (late spring funnily enough). I was bit more sensible that time though. I turned round and descended away from the buggers.
Why I didn't do that the first time I do not know.
On a tour through North Wales about ten years ago I was followed by a buzzard for several miles. I think it was attracted to my shaven, un-helmeted head...
There certainly are a lot of them in Devon now. When I was young it was unusual to see them, we saw kestrels far more. Now I will almost always see more than one on my way to work.
I never realised they had the potential to attack though!
I'm always aware of how agitated ground nesting moorland birds can get if they've nested near to the road and you ride past but never heard of a anything like a buzzard attacking anyone. Must be a bit scary to have something so large go for you. I wonder if rather than this being a 'helmet saved my life' story the helmet makes it harder for the birds to identify people on bikes as humans, a species from which they would normally keep a safe distance.
Possibly, although bird of prey attacks on pedestrians, joggers and un-helmeted cyclists are not that rare. Devon seems to have at least it's fair share of strikes.
He said: “If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I could have been badly hurt."
Classic! Who knew that cycling helmets had a buzzard-thwarting function too? Such magical devices. They probably reduce the risk of cancer too. I expect.
It's just a simple statement of fact, get over it, no-ones actually proposing their use based on anti-raptor benefits.
I had a big off last week, if I hadn't been wearing a helmet I would have left large amounts of my scalp on the road, simple fact, does that now make me a pro helmet messiah, no, so why the sarcasm especially as the person in question states the buzzard attacked his head.
Only if they are lined with foil.
I've seen a lot of buzzards here in Northern Ireland while cycling. Usually they're up high circling in the air but in the past two weeks I've seen two a lot closer than usual. This is not a bird you want attacking you. Some of the ones I've seen are huge!
Another good reason to wear a helmet then.
Perhaps it is the helmet that infuriates the buzzard.
I'm between Liverpool and Manchester and we have a lot of buzzards around here. Saw one getting harrassed by two crows on a ride the other day impressively big birds!
Bastard Buzzards. Don't even pay road tax.
The Buzzards here near Bedford are amazing things, keep your distance and stare in awe. Fantastic things.