The Portland Crow Attacks!!

While out biking around and taking care of some errands yesterday, I was attacked! For the third time in a row, a crow has swooped down and whacked me in the back of the head. Fortunately, it’s only been while wearing a helmet. Here’s a layout of the crow attacks. When approaching the Morrison Bridge from the western on-ramp you approach a point where cyclists and pedestrian pathways converge onto the shoulder of the bridge.

Approaches to Morrison Bridge. Click for full size image.

Approaches to Morrison Bridge. Click for full size image.

At the convergence, as shown with the “Crow Attacks” arrow above, is where the crow will swoop in and attack your head. This generally only happens to cyclists, and apparently only to certain cyclists. The bird has narrowed it down to some particular identifying characteristics that triggers it to attack. I’d love to know if you’ve had this experience. I’m curious why a crow is so perturbed about something, and what that something is, that it attacks people. Very strange thing for a bird.

As it hit me, I immediately went forward and got off my bike, grabbed my camera from my camera bag and tried to get some shots of the culprit. Here’s what I got. Nothing super clear, but as with other images, click for the giant full size image!

He's sitting on the light post. Hard to see as I had not had a change to adjust any settings to get the image clearer. Remember, click for full size image.

He’s sitting on the light post. Hard to see as I had not had a change to adjust any settings to get the image clearer. Remember, click for full size image.

The Crow escaping to safety after the dive bomb attack! Click for full size image.

The Crow escaping to safety after the dive bomb attack! Click for full size image.

 

A better shot of him sitting scruffely on the light post. Click for full size image!

A better shot of him sitting scruffely on the light post. Click for full size image!