Blackbird of Grand Ave!

Yesterday I became a victim of the "legendary" blackbird of Grand Ave.  As I was riding east between California and Rockwell, I felt a sort of tugging at my right shoulder and heard a ruffling/agitated noise.  As I turned my head I saw a flurry of black feathers hovering at my shoulder. I screamed (one of those shrill screams) and what I later found out was a bird, flew off behind me. "What the f*ck?!?", I screamed but my bf, who was behind me, was oddly not surpised.  He later told me about this bird (a red-winged blackbird, we think) that chases bikers on Grand Ave, somewhere between California and Western (oh, and usually only east-bound riders!). He said this bird is fairly legendary with some people in the bike community - messangers, etc. Apparently I was lucky in that the bird only stayed with me a few seconds (shrill scream?) but he chased my boyfriend for few blocks, swooping down on his shoulder and helmet.

 

Anyone have any run-ins with the "blackbird of Grand Ave" that swoops down on bicyclists???

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 5, 2010 at 4:20pm
Annie is playing at Cricket Hill at Montrose next Monday. I'm so there in my Annie dress.

Michael A said:
no one would do that to you Julie, but this week's movie in the park is "Birds"

Julie Hochstadter said:
I still think you guys are all playing a joke on me (um...and everyone else following this site). Anyone get a video or picture yet? Seeing is believing.
Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on July 5, 2010 at 4:29pm
This bird is no joke. Met a guy yesterday at the Bubbly who got attacked on friday, wrecked his bike and had his chainring take a chunk outta of his leg...

Julie Hochstadter said:
I still think you guys are all playing a joke on me (um...and everyone else following this site). Anyone get a video or picture yet? Seeing is believing.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on July 6, 2010 at 2:25am
Go ride down Grand then, it's not a joke.

Julie Hochstadter said:
I still think you guys are all playing a joke on me (um...and everyone else following this site). Anyone get a video or picture yet? Seeing is believing.
Permalink Reply by Dubi Kaufmann on July 6, 2010 at 3:05am
I had my first run in with that kind of bird yesterday while i read this sign.

Though it was a gentle tap on my head, I can see how it could be distracting while riding your on the street.

notoriousDUG said:
Go ride down Grand then, it's not a joke.

Julie Hochstadter said:
I still think you guys are all playing a joke on me (um...and everyone else following this site). Anyone get a video or picture yet? Seeing is believing.
Permalink Reply by Kelly C on July 6, 2010 at 4:12am
Aaahh, I'm glad I'm not the only one! This happened to me last year. I was riding alone, so anyone I told thought I was crazy.
Permalink Reply by Amber K on July 6, 2010 at 7:17am
The bird on Grand has gotten me a few times over the last couple of years, but not yet this year. He gets me going west between Campbell and Rockwell. I go by here on purpose when I get off the train to see if the bird will attack me. I think it's funny. It makes me laugh. I know, I'm weird.
Permalink Reply by Bradford on July 23, 2010 at 4:26pm
So yeah, I live a block west on Grand from "The Bird". It has attacked me several times. Last week, a Mexican scrap collector made fun of my flailing as he rode by in his red bed-fenced pickup. I remember his toothless smile like it was yesterday.

Anyway, I'm planning on killing that bird shortly. I need a volunteer to ride through there to draw him out though. I'm an excellent shot, generally scoring >20 when I shoot trap, so you've got nothing to worry about. I'd still wear a helmet thought. (preferably Kevlar)
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 23, 2010 at 5:17pm
Pipe down and ride faster.

Bradford said:
So yeah, I live a block west on Grand from "The Bird". It has attacked me several times. Last week, a Mexican scrap collector made fun of my flailing as he rode by in his red bed-fenced pickup. I remember his toothless smile like it was yesterday.

Anyway, I'm planning on killing that bird shortly. I need a volunteer to ride through there to draw him out though. I'm an excellent shot, generally scoring >20 when I shoot trap, so you've got nothing to worry about. I'd still wear a helmet thought. (preferably Kevlar)
Permalink Reply by djm on July 23, 2010 at 6:30pm
Ive been struck by red-winged blackbirds during breeding season along the Skokie Valley trail, but I cant claim that I wasnt warned:

And for the record, my only injury on a trip round-the-world was as a result of a magpie attack in the Blue Mountains in Australia. Initially I thought I had hit a low branch while sightseeing, but I then saw it in my mirror coming after me on its next pass.
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on July 24, 2010 at 11:13am
Amazing! never heard of this kind of thing before. Its another thing to look out for while riding my bike.
Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on July 24, 2010 at 1:56pm
San Francisco has a different species of blackbird with similar behavior. One generally nested on my route home.

Last year one of them nested in the financial district (downtown) and became a bit of a local sensation.
Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on July 24, 2010 at 5:09pm
i say we do a critical mass along grand ave. to show this bird it's a worthless cause :)

but, yeah. i want a fly by. i'm putting this route on my list. sounds like a rite of passage.

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