AUSTRALIAN MAN, MAGPIE RE-ENACT “THE BIRDS”

An Australian man almost had his eye pecked out by a vicious magpie. James Glindemann, 68, opened a container of Chinese takeout at an outdoor mall near Melbourne and a magpie sat down in front of him. As he started to open the lunchbox, the bird flew at his face and struck him in the left eye. But Mr. Glindemann still didn’t let go of his Chinese food, prompting the magpie to strike again – Kung! Pao!! – this time attacking the right side of his face, on the eye, and drew some blood. Mr. Glindemann managed to escape the animal by running to his car. He then called an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for two hours. It’s “swooping season” for magpies in Australia, when the birds get aggressive against what they perceive as a threat. Experts are saying the birds are more spooked this year by coronavirus masks and “tend to swoop the people they see as a threat.”
* Or, they just really like Chinese food. And who doesn’t, ammirite?
* Wait – Rod Taylor – who starred in “The Birds” – was Australian. Maybe they don’t like Australians?
* As the Brits say, Mr. Glindemann, and the magpie, were both feeling a bit peckish.
* His fortune cookie read, “You should get glasses.”
* Another reason to use plexiglass barriers.