Joggers, watch out!

Birds of prey attacks: how to behave correctly

Birds of prey feel increasingly disturbed in their territory.

(Bild: Philipp Rauscher/Birdlife)

Outdoor sports enthusiasts are increasingly being attacked out of the blue by hawks, buzzards and even aggressive crows. But why? And what is the right thing to do?

Recently, the account of a young jogger near Wieselburg in the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria caused quite a stir. With a shrill cry, a buzzard attacked her first from the front and then on the back of her head. The woman was only able to fend off the frightening attack with difficulty and continue jogging to safety. The scene is somewhat reminiscent of the Hitchcock thriller "The Birds". In this horror classic, seagulls deliberately attack children. However, Hollywood does not provide the reason for the bird attacks.

Dr. Klaus Hackländer, on the other hand, has an ecologically plausible explanation for the recent attacks in local fields and meadows. He is a professor of wildlife biology and hunting management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna.