Cyclist’s Run-In with Swooping Bird in Cooks Hill Goes Viral

A video posted on Reddit showing a cyclist’s close encounter with a swooping bird in Newcastle has taken off on social media. The footage, shared by cyclist Felipe Coelho, captures the dramatic moment as the bird targets him on his ride home from work.

Felipe, who saw our repost of the video on Facebook, said this was not the first time the bird had gone after him. “I was attacked by the same bird on my way to work, but it only hit my helmet. On my way back, I decided to turn on the camera, but honestly didn’t think it would happen again. Little did I know.”

The video, filmed on Parry Street, shows the bird swooping in, nipping Felipe’s nose as he rides. While the attack drew some blood from the tip of his nose, Felipe assured viewers that it wasn’t anything serious. “I was ok after the attack, just a bit of blood dripping out of the tip of my nose, but nothing major,” he commented on the Reddit post.

The video quickly gained traction across platforms, sparking both sympathy and humour from viewers. Many commented on their own run-ins with territorial birds, a familiar challenge for cyclists during springtime in Australia.

Felipe’s light-hearted take on the experience also resonated with viewers. “Honestly thought, that wasn’t as painful as the multiple 4-way stops on Parry Street,” he joked.

With the video’s rising popularity, it’s clear that the swooping season is a shared frustration, and Felipe’s capture of the moment has struck a chord with many. For cyclists in Newcastle, it’s a timely reminder to stay alert—not just for traffic, but for feathered foes above.

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