Dubbo cyclist Jennifer Fisher has remained unruffled as she was pursued by a magpie, capturing the moment up close on video.
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The bird was swooping but it was a smile not fear on her face as she filmed the brush with nature in spring.
The keen cyclist posted the video to social media, attracting interest from home and abroad.
Active Mrs Fisher had taken a break from riding because magpies were out and about for nesting season but decided to resume the activity earlier this week.
During the outing she became a target of different magpies at about five locations across the city from north to south to east.
"The first one actually got my helmet and the rest were just close encounters," she said.
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"The first one was near Furney's, then there were two around the corner near Aldi, then another one at Margaret Crescent, where those trees are, I think there were two there, then the one up Hawthorn Street and then there's actually one... along Douglas Mawson.
"They're everywhere."
Many people swooped by magpies are terrified of them, but not Mrs Fisher.
"They don't bother me, they just frighten you when they come up behind you because you don't expect them, but once you know they're there, you're fine," she said.
"I haven't had one actually hurt me at all, so I've been lucky."
The avid Instagram user posted a video and a still from the video and it garnered almost 300 likes and more than 150 comments.
"Heaps of comments, and heaps of private comments as well," Mrs Fisher said.
"A lot of people are more scared of them.
"They don't bother me, not really."
The springtime swoopers may have added to the adventure of a city bike ride, but they have their supporters, including Mrs Fisher.
"Generally they are [friendly] and a lot of people I've been asking actually feed them, because they remember you," she said.
"I don't know how true that is...
"They're just looking after their babies, aren't they."