new south wales

Mr Swoopsalot picks on bald men the most

@JudyEv (381837)

Rockingham, Australia

January 10, 2024 6:36pm CST

I read an interesting article online about a year 3 student (so aged between 8 and 9) who conducted a survey about a magpie near her school in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The magpie, Mr Swoopsalot, has been terrorising people around the school for some years. Emma Glenfield noticed the magpie seemed to target the fathers and she began to keep a journal recording details about the men. With help from her Mum, Emma created an online survey, then printed out flyers with a QR code, went to the local park and asked strangers to fill it in. Emma was excited that 150 people filled in the survey but then it went viral and now over 30,000 have completed the questionnaire. Emma loves maths but doesn’t use spreadsheets yet. She was able to present her findings in a graph using Lego. The results show that men with little or no hair are more likely to be attacked. The sample size is so huge it dwarfs anything that has been done before. Emma was a state mathematics competition for her year level with her research and went on to win the national event. The photo is mine of a very handsome magpie. This is another example of people giving a bird a name because it looks similar to a bird they know. Early English settlers named the magpie after the black and white bird that they were familiar with although it is quite different to ours.

21 people like this

22 responses

@xFiacre (14788)

• Ireland

11 Jan 24

@judyev I suppose that little girl will discover boys in a few years and forget about magpies. Did I say that out loud?

6 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

11 Jan 24

Yes, you did.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238279)

• Walnut Creek, California

11 Jan 24

Or maybe boys will reject her for being smart and she will continue into a career in ethology.

6 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

She is right into maths too it seems. There should be some good-looking boys in the maths classes. And maybe not so much competition. lol

2 people like this

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

11 Jan 24

It's interesting to know that the girl did such work at such young age. That's an extensive survey and one has to believe the results and conclusion. Glad that so many people responded to her questionnaire. Else it would have dampened her spirit and enthusiasm.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

One of the universities is keeping records of her findings to help them in her own research.

2 people like this

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

12 Jan 24

@JudyEv That's nice. That would be encouraging for the child.

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

11 Jan 24

I remember reading about a bird that attacked redhaired people. Glad I wear a hat when I go out.

2 people like this

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@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

12 Jan 24

@JudyEv Maybe to decorate their nest?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

That's interesting. I wonder why that would happen.

2 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502208)

• Italy

11 Jan 24

Our megpies are very different, but for sure they love "shiny objects". May be that the top of a human head with little hair is shiny enough to interest them.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502208)

• Italy

12 Jan 24

At least their head would be safe. I had some shiny pepples in the birds' water fountain outside. The magpies have taken all them out and now they are scattered in the lawn.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

They say to wear a hat with eyes painted on the top. Maybe the bald men could paint eyes on the tops of their heads.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

@LadyDuck Do your magpies look like the British ones?

2 people like this

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@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

11 Jan 24

This is very familiar, sure I have read it in the news here. Makes me glad I wear a hat most days!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

Once upon a time, they were advocating painting/sewing eyes on the top of hats. So do your magpies dive-bomb you too?

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

13 Jan 24

@JudyEv Not yet, but seagulls are a bit of problem

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

16 Jan 24

@JudyEv That is pretty bold, but I guess the lure of a free meal!

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

11 Jan 24

Really interesting and interesting too that the little girl was so keen in watching and recording a magpie's activity near her school.

2 people like this

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

@aninditasen She must be surely, to win a national competition.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

She loves maths and is curious about all sorts of things apparently.

2 people like this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

12 Jan 24

@JudyEv She is an intelligent girl I should say.

1 person likes this

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)

• China

11 Jan 24

That was really something ! How much work it involved ! If so ,the bald men have to wear a cap when they go out.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

If there are nesting magpies in an area it might be a good idea for everyone to wear a hat.

2 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (135601)

• Marion, Ohio

11 Jan 24

That is interesting. She is a very bright girl

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

She is indeed. She doesn't know about spreadsheets yet but she had all the info set out with Lego.

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (97957)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

11 Jan 24

That is very interesting and she is a very smart girl, Back in Latvia there was a news story at one time where people at an apartment complex were complaining about crows swooping down and pecking on their heads. What was discovered was that the birds were protecting their nests and if anyone walked too close to a tree they were in they would swoop. If I remember correctly I think the birds were placed somewhere safer for them and for the people ,

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

That is what happens here. The birds only swoop when they think their nests are in danger.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238279)

• Walnut Creek, California

11 Jan 24

I wear a baseball cap most of the time.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

That's a good idea if there are nesting birds around.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

11 Jan 24

That sounds like an interesting survey, done by a young girl and not a scientist. I'm glad she won the state mathematics competition for her age group. I think we'll hear more about her in the years to come. I love your handsome magpie.

2 people like this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

12 Jan 24

@JudyEv Not to my knowledge.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

She really loves maths so no doubt she'll pursue it as a career one day. I'm glad you like the magpie. Does the US have a bird they call a magpie? I know England does.

2 people like this

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@Shiva49 (28371)

• Singapore

11 Jan 24

Bald men are not having it easy with our species but now even magpies give them a tough time sadly. They are easy pickings from above! It is commendable that the young girl took pains to do a survey.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

Maybe they should paint eyes on the tops of their heads. Painting eyes on top of a hat is supposed to deter attacks.

2 people like this

@Shiva49 (28371)

• Singapore

12 Jan 24

@JudyEv à la scarecrow to ward off unwanted attention! Maybe, they will get more singled out then!

1 person likes this

@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

11 Jan 24

Emma is going to be a go getter in life. Magpie's go for bald men, interesting.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Jan 24

She obviously has a keen interest in things. She has a little notebook and writes down things she wants to know or investigate.

1 person likes this

@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

16 Jan 24

A young Sherlock Holmes

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222285)

• United States

11 Jan 24

Emma is quite the little smarty. Have a good day.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

Her first love is maths but I think the second must be magpies! lol

2 people like this

@allknowing (153544)

• India

11 Jan 24

That extensive survey must have proved her point.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

Yes, it did. Some university was interested in her findings too.

2 people like this

@rebelann (117209)

• El Paso, Texas

11 Jan 24

That is one very smart little girl. I have never seen a magpie but I have seen videos of them, they are hilarious and it would be so much fun to try to video.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

They have the most melodious song and in Donnybrook they would warble away on a moonlit night, long after all the other birds had gone to bed.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

11 Jan 24

Does he now?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

That's what the figures say!!

2 people like this

@jstory07 (148720)

• Roseburg, Oregon

11 Jan 24

That girl for being young did a good job on that report.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

17 Jan 24

I thought so too. She isn't really all that old.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

16 Jan 24

Hmm, another reason you don't want to go bald.

Unfortunately, us guys are at the mercy of heredity.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Jan 24

The bald men should paint eyes on their scalps. That is supposed to help keep the magpies from attacking.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jan 24

@dgobucks226 Yes, I guess.

1 person likes this

@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

18 Jan 24

Kind of like a scarecrow.

1 person likes this

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@Beestring (15373)

• Hong Kong

11 Jan 24

What a smart girl she is.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan 24

She is very young really to be tackling something like this.

2 people like this