VICTIMS of a “vicious” magpie at Bright, including a tourist who was struck on Friday, have supported plans to have it killed.
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Sydneysider John Paxton was riding his bike through the park next to the Ovens River on Friday morning when the magpie swooped on him three times leaving him with bloody marks near his right ear.
“It’s one thing for locals to say it’s not the right thing for the bird to be removed, but the reality is it hurt and I’m bleeding,” he said moments after the attack witnessed by The Border Mail.
Alpine Shire has installed a trap in Howitt Park to ensnare the magpie, following approval by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
“We’ve had reports of dozens of people with injuries to their face,” Ms Cooke said on Friday.
“Swooping magpies are part of a normal summer, but this situation is more than just that.”
Ms Cooke said the majority of private messages that the council had received supported the shire’s stance, with public comments on social media “more negative”.
She said although there was more than one magpie in the area, she was certain there was only the one aggressive bird.
Asked what would happen to determine if the specific bird was trapped, Ms Cooke said its behaviour would be checked for clarification.
She said the magpie’s nesting location had not been determined.
The decision to nab and kill the magpie was supported by those that The Border Mail spoke to at the park which features a playground.
Bright mother Marcia Broadway said her son Jagger, 5, had a mark etched into his face after being hit while riding his bike.
“It circled for five seconds and came back again and had another go, it was vicious,” Ms Broadway said.
She is “more than happy” for the magpie to be killed.
Bright physiotherapist Tim Dornom, father of three children under six, was pecked by the magpie while riding away from the park.
He was left with a bloodied cheek and sought medical treatment.
“I suppose if a dog attacks a kid it’s gone,” he said.
“If it’s going to endanger the eyesight of kids from the age of four upwards I think it needs to go.
“I’d rather have kids with their sight than a magpie in the area, although I’m a Collingwood supporter.”