Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from ACM, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's is written by ACM national digital journalist Kim Chappell.
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Tourists have it all wrong.
They come here in fear of snakes, spiders, crocodiles... probably even sharks.
But really - how often do you come by one of them in your normal day-to-day?
Even those walking the long-grassy paddocks and bush tracks aren't going to spot a 'nope rope' on every trip (that's a cute name for a snake, by the by).
Instead those visiting this wide brown land should surely quake in fear at the word 'magpie'.
These beautiful, smart, incredible Australian birds turn into public enemy number one at this time of year.
I've never seen terror in the eyes of anybody met by a snake or spider like I saw on that scooter kid's face as he was repeatedly bombed and screamed for his dad all those years ago. And he was wearing a helmet. (If you don't remember that viral video here it is)
You go from smiling at the sight of one wondering about the lawn, making its gorgeous call, to quaking in your boots - if you know what's good for you that is.
I live on five rolling acres in the NSW Blue Mountains and we have had a lovely friendly family of magpies in our patch for years.
We've lived in harmony, they wander the lawns, nest in the trees next door and never a problem.
They even delight in teasing my dog.
But last spring it all changed.
I was out watering the vegie garden. Minding my own business, taking in the peace and quiet. Suddenly one of the magpies flew over my head - really, really low.
My slow working brain went 'oh that was close, must not have seen me here'.
Less than a minute later a second swoop - that got my brain into gear.
I turned the tap off and wandered inside - message received.
None of us were hit - these were very much just warnings - but still it made going outside for the next couple of weeks a risky business.
After all, these birds can really do some serious harm if they want to.
So tread carefully and watch those magpie maps gardeners, walkers and enemy number one - cyclists.
- Due to the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, there will be no Voice of Real Australia on Thursday, September 22.
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Kim Chappell
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
