Fears toddler could go blind in one eye after magpie attack

A one-year-old boy could lose the sight in one eye after being attacked by a swooping magpie.

Little Jacob Gale’s left eye was punctured by a sharp magpie beak while he was at popular Whiteman Park, reports 7 news.

The little boy had surgery on Sunday but it is unclear if he will be able to see out of the eye again.

Jacob’s father Adam said his son “screamed out in terror” as the magpie flapped and hovered over him.

“It’s penetrated into the lens and they’ve had to remove the lens of the eye because it’s damaged,” Adam Gale said.

The bird came out of nowhere and went straight for little Jacob’s face.

It will be several weeks before doctors know whether Jacob is likely to regain his eyesight.

Safety tips

Thanks to MoM member Holly, who shared some great tips with us from the Magpie Alert website.

• Magpie season typically lasts from August to November in Australia. So you may encounter nesting magpies at parks with trees during this time.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. Not only is it sun-safe, it will protect the eyes from sharp beaks.
• Paint or sew eyes on the back of your hat.
• If you don’t like hats, try carrying an umbrella above you instead.
• Travel in groups. Magpies are more likely to single out individuals.
• Avoid nesting areas if possible. Use an alternative route to get to play areas and avoid playing around nesting trees.
• Stay calm. Shouting and waving or flapping arms may be seen as aggression by magpies.
• Do not throw anything at the birds or do anything similar that may aggravate swooping magpies further. These birds have been shown to have a great memory and will likely single out people they identify as aggressors next time they visit!
• Contact your local council to report any magpie attack injuries as well as seeking first aid if required.

That’s is so scary! We hope little Jacob makes a full recovery.

Share your comments below

Via 7 news

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14 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 17 Sep 2017
    6:35 pm
yeah this is sad to read. that poor little child! i hope that he turns out alright. i heard that another child got attacked by a magpie at the same park, just a day or two later

- - Ellen said
  - 14 Sep 2017
    7:41 am
I’ve chickens and they’ve an area in the backyard where they can roam freely. Yesterday I saw the magpie’s trying to hunt for the chicken food and there was fighting going on between the chickens and the magpie’s. They’re such a bold aggressive birds !

- - mom90758 said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    1:40 pm
Last year I had a very good year. I walk every day with my dog and I think the magpies know me and my dog by now, because they look at us but they don’t even try to come close. Probably they know we are not going to hurt them.
But something like 3 years ago, I was with my bicycle and a helmet and they flew against the helmet different times. I was so scared. Now I avoid that are during this season.

- - Ellen said
  - 13 Sep 2017
    3:49 am
Aw that is so scary !! Hope & pray little Jacob recovers well & soon !
Imagine the magpie going a bit to deep in the eye and you’re right in the brain and it could be deadly. This morning when I hung out the wash I had a magpie on less then a meter distance staring at me and I felt threatened
- mom93821 replied
  
  13 Sep 2017 , 6:54 am
  Magpie beaks are sharp and with the force of the swoop down there is a lot of force on impact too.
- - mom112217 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    6:27 pm
I do hope the young boy will not lose his sight,you just would never have thought this would happen.

- - mom206279 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    6:26 pm
I hate magpies! I can’t use any of the walking tracks here at the moment.

- - mom90758 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    4:09 pm
This is really that bad time of the year. Poor child. We need to be very vigilant.

- - mom93821 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    2:29 pm
Poor little boy – I hope he recovers and does not lose vision. Being swooped is indeed scary and being injured can be so traumatic. I have also received an eye injury due to a magpie swoop/attack.

- - nadine_hill said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    2:16 pm
We have many wild birds visit our garden and magpies have never bothered us before – this year, however we have two of them swooping on the other birds every day … I’m fearful of being attacked while hanging out the washing! Poor little Jacob – I hope he makes a full recovery!

- - mom160421 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    2:12 pm
Poor baby. Magpies always scare me during mating season.

- - mom156049 said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    1:20 pm
Magpie attacks are so scary and dangerous. Wishing little Jacob a speedy recovery and pray he hasn’t lost the sight in his left eye

- - Mum2archer said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    1:02 pm
Oh the poor little darling. How terrifying!! I wish him all the best on his recovery

- - BellaB said
  - 12 Sep 2017
    12:16 pm
Magpie attacks can be terrifying even withou ths!