ANU Engineers vs Magpie Season

ANU Bike Helmet Engineering Competition:

We are soon reaching swooping season, and our lovely friend, the magpies, can't wait to attack us on our joyous rides around Canberra. The magpies are coming, but ANU engineering students welcome the challenge. Every year, ENGN1211 at the ANU hosts a competition for creating the best anti-magpie helmet.

This project not only tests the helmet’s ability to keep those beaks at bay but also considers marketability, cost effectiveness, and real world usability, such as weight, ventilation, and crash protection. The students set out with their grades on the line, sketching, prototyping, and arguing over materials to craft a helmet that could outsmart even the craftiest swooper.

Designs for magpie proof helmets submitted by Arthur Bond

Some of the designs looked like they came straight out of a sci-fi movie. One team unveiled the “Sonic” helmet, which uses high-frequency ultrasonic pulses similar to the technology used at airports to deter birds. The design even features a clever micro-lattice shock absorber that absorbs 14% more impact than standard foam, meaning it’s not just a bird deterrent, it’s a serious safety upgrade.

Another team went for speed and simplicity with the “Aero” helmet, lightweight, sleek, and aerodynamic; it prioritised fast rides over swooping defence. And then there was the “Visor” helmet, with a full-face shield that wouldn’t look out of place on a stormtrooper, offering facial protection during the six-week swooping season before detaching for a more classic look.

After much testing, scoring, and heated debate, the Sonic helmet swooped in for the win. It balanced magpie defence, impact safety, and comfort while staying affordable at around $40 to produce a far cry from the $4,600 average hospital bill of a magpie-related injury. Additionally, it met all the regulatory requirements outlined in AS/NZS 2063:2020 and ensured humane treatment, in accordance with wildlife laws.

So, as the swooping season descends on Canberra, there’s hope on the horizon, engineered, lightweight, and just maybe a little bit sci-fi.

How to Magpie-Proof Your Helmet

Can’t wait for ANU’s award winning magpie shield to hit the shelves? You don’t have to. There are plenty of ways to give your current helmet a magpie-proof makeover, some tried, some questionable, and some that might just make your neighbours laugh.

1. Eyes on the Back of Your Head (Literally)
Magpies are less likely to swoop if they think you’re watching. Stickers or hand-drawn eyes on the back of your helmet are a classic move. Are they stylish? Debatable. Effective? Surprisingly, yes.

2. Go Spiky
Cable ties have long been the DIY badge of the swooping season. They look ridiculous like a porcupine on wheels but the spines make it harder for a magpie to land a clean hit.

3. Keep It Moving
Magpies tend to swoop when they see a threat lingering in their territory. If you can, dismount and walk through known swooping zones, or give that stretch a miss until the six-week season passes.

4. Bright and Bold
Some riders swear by high-contrast or bright colours to throw off the birds’ attack pattern. Whether it’s a fluoro helmet or a dazzling scarf, sometimes standing out makes you less of a target.

Bonus Rule: Don’t Be a Jerk to Magpies
Swooping is usually defensive, not malicious. Respect nesting zones, don’t provoke them, and remember it’s a short season.

For more information on how to Pieproof your helmet, here