This is the story of the dive-bombing Brewer's Blackbirds.
Yep. You read it right. DIVE-BOMBING BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. A.K.A. Angry Birds of Idaho. Here's how it happened. I was out for a run this morning. You know, a little 6:00 am 6-mile run to get my heart rate going and to wake me up. Not a big deal. I was running west down McMillan, a street in my hometown. About 11-minutes into my 60-minute run, I heard this crazy squawking and looked up to see a blackbird hovering over my head, and then he swooped and dive-bombed me! I thought it was a little odd at first... but then the little stinker kept coming back. He would fly, swoop, hover, dive at me, and then fly back up and perch on the power lines.
You guys—this happened for the next 40-minutes (I ran 3-miles out and 3-miles back, so for 4 of the 6-miles, this was an ongoing battle). And it gets better... the little blackbird summoned all his bird bullying buddies and at one point, I had about five... FIVE birds that were joining together and all dive-bombing me at once! They would take turns and perch-swoop-squawk-dive, perch-swoop-squawk-dive, perch-swoop-squawk-dive. And what was I supposed to do? I was 3-miles away from home... it's not like I could do anything else but run home.
At one point, I stopped running, looked into their little beady eyes while they sat up on their power lines and yelled at them, "WHAT?! WHAT IS IT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Yes, I yelled at the birds. And they did nothing. They just sat on their power lines and chirped down at me, acting all innocent and like I was the crazy running lady who was yelling at them (which, had I been observing this, I would have thought the same thing). But then—as soon as I turned back around and began running—they started dive-bombing again! Finally... finally as I came within a mile of my house, they stopped following me. I kid you not, it was funny. Actually funny.
The best part about this story is that McMillan is a little 2-lane road that runs through Meridian, and there are quite a few people who take it to travel to work... so as this was all happening and I was running along the shoulder of the road (there are no sidewalks), cars were driving by! I can't even imagine how funny it must have looked to see this girl running and being dive-bombed by these little black birds. Just priceless.
When I got home, I didn't know what kind of birds they were (just small black ones), so I googled it and found that they are Brewer's Blackbirds... and here's the thing, apparently this isn't out of the ordinary for them to terrorize people like this! And it's not like I was wearing something crazy... I had on a lime green top and a white hat... nothing that would attract any unnecessary or warranted attention from birds. Anyway... that was my story for today. I have a lot of stories about running... but this one takes the cake.
44 comments:
That totally happened to me too! I was running on Northwestern University's campus and was dive bombed by a black bird a few times. I didn't understand why it was me since there were a lot of people out (running, walking, etc) but that bird did not want me there. It's so crazy. I can't imagine what it was like to have FIVE of them going after you. Poor thing! Total craziness.
Seriously I lol'd. I bet that was a sight to see you yelling at the birds. I would have been swinging with punches! haha. This past weekend I was on our wooded running trail (20+ miles long) and was running a nice little 4 miler and came across a beautiful owl. He kept swooping next to me and followed me on the side of the path for a bit. Then about 1/4 mile later I saw a 4ft long black snake slithering on 'over' the path. I just ran around it, but I seriously hope that owl got him. (:
Great story though! Still chuckling as I type. ha
www.eloquentenglish.me
Creepy and Funny!
Klay mimicked a crow once.... and he was hiking... the next clearing he got to, there was a tree FULL OF CROWS... almost to say "Yes sir, you called?"
Freakiest Thing EVER!
they're so crazy territorial! worst
kw ladies in navy
Oh that is classic! Maybe they thought you could use a little motivation to keep going. Makes me think of the Pixar short "For the Birds"... They know exactly what they're doing!!! Here's a link, if you want to laugh. I crack up every time!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3dq2dJcZBJA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3dq2dJcZBJA
hahaha that's terrifying. I would've freaked out.
That is crazy, AHHHH!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Haha, I laughed out loud at this! It must have been funny to people watching! Glad they didn't actually attack :)
Ack! I would be a little freaked!
Oh goodness, you handled it better than I would have. I'm a tad-bit super freaked out about birds.
This is too funny, but also horrible because I've experienced them dive-bombing me while running in Idaho. Went for a run along the river and as soon as I left my house this bird hoovered and attacked! Along with your story, it happened the entire 4-mile run!!!
There must be something better for them to attack!
You should bring a squirt gun with you next time ;-)
She should! A squirt gun would be too much fun!
That is straight out of The Birds (but funny, not scary)!
This story was crazy funny (in a crazy scary) kind of way! Definitely has hitchcock written all over it!
Ha! I thought that they dive bombed because they had a nest nearby.....didn't realize that they were just being nasty! I got dive bombed last week. And yes, Mom does think this is funny....love Mom:)
talk about angry birds! next time bring a taser or some mace to fight back at those terrorist birds :)
I laughed and laughed about it all day. I want to run that same route again and see if they're always that crazy! Poor you, though... singled out among the crowd! I giggled... :)
Oh man! An owl! Now THAT would be a cool running companion. And yeah, I hope he got that snake... what a yummy treat!
Oh I'm so glad! I just had to throw my tube away and I'm using a Lancome one... and it's just not as good! Yay for covergirl!
That's what I felt like! I kept thinking that if that happened to someone who had a fear of birds that it would be just awful!!
EEK! And crows, too. The worst!
I guess so! I read up on it after reading your comment. Weirdo birds!
I bet you have a bunch of runner's stories!! You're the pro!
No kidding! I was waiting for one to perch on my hat. Now THAT would have been a sight!
We have white tailed birds in Atlanta that do the same thing, but only when I'm running or walking with the dog and ONLY in the spring (I think it's when they are mating). My dog is fearful of being outside for MONTHS.
So crazy these birds exist where you are. Be safe. Maybe wear a hat with a picture of a bear on it to scare them off next time. Yikes!
HA!!! THAT VIDEO! Oh my gosh. Those pixar guys... genius. I feel like the part where they're all squawking and making fun of the big one... that was them doing that to me! :)
I'm so glad you weren't there! These things were tiny and terrifying! :)
You would think so! It's not like they can eat us or anything! :)
BEST IDEA EVERRRR!
Yes I should! A pocket squirt gun... perfect!
It totally is! I'm a Hitchcock fan and it made me smile!
Thank goodness I didn't lose an eyeball :) ha!
Let's hope we don't get any lingering birds this weekend! Our runs always have the funniest stories. Love you, Mom!
Someone suggested a squirt gun! Ha! Can you imagine?
Or attach some spikes to the top of it! Ha!
WOW! That must suck. But then again, I got attacked by a whippoorwill, TWICE! Oh it sucked.
By the way: how are you? I have been crazy busy and haven't been able to stop by and comment as much.
LOL. We have quite a few crazy hell-bent birds in Australia. Magpies, Miners, I cant remember the name of one that has talon things on its wings that lays its eggs in open fields (like public ovals, where people go jogging - then it attacks them in all its fury!!) I get attacked regularly in spring by Magpies who are guarding their nests. The worst time was one that kept hitting the top of my bike helmet, when I turned around to see where it was and seen it coming for my face I got the wobbles and fell off. It was a slow limping walk to work with a horrible magpie swooping me all the way.....
Yeah, birds don't like me.
I see you have been posting alot about running. That's good though. Something I need to get into. I have been crazy busy too. Oh well.
I don't go for too long, except for on the weekends! I was running a LOT between '09-'11, but then stopped for a while because life got in the way. I've always been a runner, so getting back into it feels so good! And... if not... walking is good too!
Haha oh gosh this is hilarious. Like something out of The Birds! That definitely would have been a sight to see.
Oh goodness. Birds scare the crap out of me and this is like my worst nightmare, haha! Also, I wanted to say thanks for the mascara recommendation, I am in love!!
Now THAT is the worst story! I can't believe it actually attacked your helmet! What a crazy bird!!
Twice? Poor girl! That's just crazy!
Cody, I've been GREAT! Don't you worry if you can't stop by every day. I love hearing from you whenever I get the chance! I am so good... just resting and running and resting and running! So much going on, it seems, but it's all good!
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