Australian Man Dies After Swooping Magpie Causes Him to Crash Bike

An Australian man died Sunday while riding his bike after a magpie swooped down and attacked him. 

The 76-year-old was cycling in Nicholson Park south of Sydney when the swooping magpie came in and attacked him. The cyclist tried to avoid the aggressive bird and veered off the path he was riding on, crashing into a fence, according to authorities.

The rider was thrown to the ground and suffered a serious head injury. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening, according to police. 

Australia is currently in the spring season during which magpies become increasingly aggressive as it is their breeding season.

When magpies get aggressive they swoop from the sky in an effort to protect their young from perceived threats. 

Just in 2019, there have been a reported 1,570 swoopings of magpies that have caused 189 injuries, according to Magpie Alert. It is predicted the number will rise. 

Australians are told to wear helmets while riding bikes or carry large sticks in an effort to protect themselves from the swooping birds during the spring season.

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