Of the dozens of comments that yesterday’s post elicited none make the point better than this one from Roy …
Yes, you must wear a helmet. In a recent bike accident when I hit the back of a 4WD I received a nasty gash around my left eye. My helmeted head put a significant dent in the metal above the tail light. The Emergency Dept staff put it simply. No helmet no Roy!!
The outside world is no place for your brain.
Readers outside Australia may also be wondering why we are attacked by Magpies when they never have that privilege. The answer to that is simple. Our Magpie isn’t really a Magpie at all.
The Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) must have reminded the early settlers of their own Magpie which is not a close relative. It does seem a stretch but bear in mind they had been at sea for a long time.
This one is the original. It’s formal name in English is the Eurasian Magpie, scientifically Pica pica.
There are many other examples of birds that migrants have misnamed for similar looking species back home.
bobmcgee 
When I lived in Brisbane the springtime Maggie swoops we’re properly scary. Those beastly birds would take chunks out of your head! The Tassie variety are much more laid back…