Are we bored of the buzzard yet? I know I am, and yet this morning – despite it being a typical summer day* – I set off hatless again. I thought about going back but by the time I had realised my mistake I was a mile or so down the road. Ah well, I thought. It’s starting to rain and the buzzard won’t fly in the rain. And I’ll keep my speed steady so I don’t look like prey and it won’t attack. And besides, it’s only a bird, it won’t be that…
WHOOOOSH
…frightening. Wrong on all counts.
Coming back, I discovered that the hood on my everything-bar-the-apocalypse jacket was also effective against buzzards. Which just adds to my impression that when I bought it it was the best how much?! I ever spent.
I was going to end this post with a picture of a buzzard’s-eye view of the back of my head so you can see for yourselves whether it does or does not resemble a squashed rabbit but it turns out to be surprisingly difficult to photograph the back of your own head and the other half is out, so you will just have to imagine it.
* threatening drizzle. The Jet Stream has clearly returned to its normal activity of dumping half the contents of the Irish Sea onto our heads. Readers in the South can keep their moans about it being too hot to themselves, thanks. I get enough of it on Twitter…
I knew this reminded me of something from years ago, and I just remembered what it was.
John
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Stalked+by+a+seagull%3B+BIRD+ATTACKS+DON+FOR+3YRS.-a060672763
you think it’s personal then? I’m going to have to start cycling in disguise
One of the boats moored near here has one of these as an anti-seagull precautions:
http://www.scarem.co.uk/bird-scaring-kites/scarem-hawk-kite
Might it help if you were to attach something like this to your bike? Or maybe the buzzard would think it a rival. How long before the chicks are safely away?
yeah, I’m not sure there’s much would frighten off a buzzard except a golden eagle… not sure how long the chicks will be around – and I just hope they don’t join mama in harassing me when they fledge!
Do other cyclers use the road? Have they been similarly strafed? I know people use those pinwheel thingies to keep birds out of their gardens, maybe a propeller beanie is in order.
Adult Beanie Propeller Multi-colored Baseball Hat (propeller colors may vary)
If the cap bill provides too much wind resistance, you could turn the bill to the back. However, such headgear might excite some comment from the locals, not to mention looks askance. . . and one is reminded of the joke about the fellow in New York who wore a tinfoil hat to keep the elephants away.
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