Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum
Bad-Ass Birds in San Francisco Go Berserk, Attack Humans! - Printable Version

+- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com)
+-- Forum: Culture (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-49.html)
+--- Forum: Weird & Beyond (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-123.html)
+--- Thread: Bad-Ass Birds in San Francisco Go Berserk, Attack Humans! (/thread-3920.html)

Bad-Ass Birds in San Francisco Go Berserk, Attack Humans! - Yazata - Jul 13, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odCo0F51MXw

The biologists say that these are 'Brewer's Blackbirds' and that they behave this way to protect their nearby nests.

I wonder if this is what inspired Alfred Hitchcock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewer's_blackbird

RE: Bad-Ass Birds in San Francisco Go Berserk, Attack Humans! - Magical Realist - Jul 13, 2017

Peck their bloody eyes out! (I've been binge watching Game of Thrones all week). I think that scene from the Birds scarred me for life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwLiH8bWFdM

RE: Bad-Ass Birds in San Francisco Go Berserk, Attack Humans! - C C - Jul 13, 2017

(Jul 13, 2017 02:33 AM)Yazata Wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odCo0F51MXw

The biologists say that these are 'Brewer's Blackbirds' and that they behave this way to protect their nearby nests.

I wonder if this is what inspired Alfred Hitchcock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewer's_blackbird


Numerous scattered accounts over the years, too. In the LA Times, there's an article from 1986 when Brewer's blackbirds laid siege to Beverly Hills City Hall.

"This bird came fluttering into me and lightly bashed into my head," said Randy Levitz, a Westwood resident. "I kept walking and looked back and saw people behind me in the same general area swatting the air with their arms." (Nasty Nesting - June 19, 1986)

Vaguely reminiscent of what happened to Elaine in the "The Andrea Doria" episode of Seinfeld.

ALAN: Ok, then, well, So.. see ya around.. big head. (Gets up to leave)

ELAINE: Pardon?

ALAN: You got a big head. It's too big for your body. (Walks for the door)

ELAINE: (Laughing out loud) That's it?! (Laughs again) That's the best you got?! (Laughs loudly as Alan exits)

(Scene ends)

[...]

(Elaine passes a man on a bench. All the sudden, a bird flies right into Elaine's head, and falls to the ground. The bird regains it's balance, and flies off. The man on the bench is staring in awe)

MAN 2: He flew right into your head. Like he couldn't avoid it.

ELAINE: (Rubbing her head to relieve the pain) Really?

MAN 2: Never seen that before. Bird into a woman's head.

(Elaine covers her head with her hands, and runs off)

(Scene ends)

[...]

(Elaine enters. She has a scarf over her head - trying to tie her hair down. She looks angered at something)

JERRY: What's the matter with you?

ELAINE: Nothing.. Except that a bird ran into my giant freak-head. (Sits down)

JERRY: What giant freak-head?

ELAINE: (Annoyed, near tears) The one that sits atop my disproportunately puny body. I'm a walking candy apple!

JERRY: So, it's actually gotten to you? You're playing right into his hands!

ELAINE: (Realizing) What? Yeah.. you're right!.. All I have to do is call him up, and sit with him, and show him that it doesn't bother me. You know, laugh it off.. or jam a fork into his forehead.

JERRY: (Casually, sarcastic) Either way.