Hilarious videos show birds inexplicably attacking residents in Spanish city
A flock of unknown birds has been targeting pedestrians along a busy town city street
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Residents in the Andalusian city of Linares, Jaén, have been left stunned after a flock of aggressive birds began swooping down and attacking people walking through the centre.
The incidents have mainly been reported on Calle La Cruz, a well known street connecting the Salesianos School to the Fuente del Pisar fountain. In recent days, people say they have been struck or startled by birds suddenly flying down from trees and attacking them from behind.
“It’s as if they’ve gone crazy,” said one resident. “They came at us twice on the same walk. It was bizarre.”
Several locals shared videos on social media, some of which quickly went viral. One clip shows a young boy flinching as a bird appears out of nowhere, while other posts show pedestrians using hats, bags or just waving their hands to try to protect themselves.
There’s still no confirmation of what type of bird is behind the behaviour, but some locals believe it could be the Iberian magpie (Cyanopica cooki). These birds are known to have moved into more urban areas during the pandemic. Others remain unsure, with only one thing agreed upon: this is far from normal.“They’re attacking people for no reason,” said another passerby. “I’ve lived here all my life and never seen anything like this.”
Although similar incidents have been reported elsewhere, usually involving cyclists or during nesting season, residents in Linares say it’s not something they’ve experienced before.
The behaviour has even prompted comparisons with Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film The Birds. One Facebook user joked, “The Simpsons predicted it, we’re doomed!” But for those on the receiving end of a bird’s beak or claws, it’s not quite so funny.
Local authorities have yet to comment, and it’s not clear if any action will be taken. For now, people in Linares are keeping an eye on the trees and walking a little quicker than usual along Calle La Cruz.
Image: traditional chinese medician/Pixabay
Videos: mariayjosemoreno1/TikTok
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