Territorial magpies will soon descend on pedestrians and cyclists, as mating season begins. Photo: File.
The heyday of Canberra motorsports may well be over after Chief Minister Andrew Barr declined to revive V8 motor racing in the nation’s capital on the grounds of costs to the local economy without sufficient benefit, but the results of our weekly poll were much closer.
We asked: Would you welcome the return of V8 racing to Canberra?
HiddenDragon wrote: “If only the ACT government brought the same (apparent) sober prudence and practicality to bear in all its activities, not just in relation to things which don’t personally appeal and/or provide the right sorts of virtue signalling and photo opportunities.”
GrumpyGrandpa said: “Fair call Chief Minister. We should approve major projects based on their business case. It is after all tax payer’s money being spent.”
920 readers voted and the results were close.
Your choices to vote were No, isn’t putting up with Summernats enough? This received 48 per cent of the total or 446 votes. Alternatively, you could vote Yes, bring it on! Love roaring engines and racetrack drama. This option was the winner by a slender margin, polling 52 per cent of the total, or 474 votes.
This week, as the weather begins to warm and spring is a whisper on the horizon, we’re wondering whether you’ve been swooped by a magpie yet.
Reports are already emerging of murderous magpies, bent on creating mayhem among Canberra’s defenceless cyclists (or broody birds protecting their natural interests from weird-looking interlopers).
Access Canberra warns: “Magpies can swoop from July through to December (usually for about eight weeks) during the spring while they build nests, lay and protect eggs and raise nestling and fledgling birds. Not all magpies will swoop but some will as a natural instinct to protect their territory (area around their nest) and their young.”
So, is the swooping a seasonal reign of terror or an avoidable fact of life? Sub-editor David Murtagh made his feelings plain with one of the best-read editorials in Region‘s recent history, winningly titled Magpies are evil, rotten, malevolent, dead-eyed bastards. Fact check: true.
But not everyone agreed that the black and white marauders were motivated by ill-intent.
Many sided with Graham Cooke, who said “I feed our local magpies every day with the cat’s leftovers, and have never been swooped”, and Joe Humphries, who said: “They are a part of Aussie life. Either you love them or you hate them. Ranting about them doesn’t help. Get over it”.
Not Albert, though, who applauded the callout, writing “I can imagine the conga line of sedentary, diesel driving, nature channel experts that will decry your article.
“A question for anyone taking you to task: When did you last get outside, do some serious exercise and gracefully accept multiple magpie attacks as your own fault for daring to enjoy the great outdoors?”
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