Windsor Road Monster

The Windsor Road Monster (also known as the Circa Marauder, Windsor Road Bomber, or just Monster) was an Australian magpie that lived Bella Vista, New South Wales.

Attacks

While usually only a small number of male magpies become aggressive during the breeding season in an attempt protect newborns from perceived threats, the Monster was described as a "very aggressive and uncharacteristically territorial" magpie. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) called the Monster a "significant risk to public safety". The Monster was known for three years before its death, with over forty complaints made to the The Hills Shire Council about the magpie's behaviour.

The Monster was particularly aggressive towards cyclists. Reports of attacks included the Monster deliberately attacking faces underneath cycling helmets, and some of the Monster's victims required hospitalisation after attacks, including one man who suffered a heart attack during an attack, where the Monster continued to attack while he was on the ground losing consciousness.

Attempts at relocation

While it is unusual for a council to intervene regarding magpie attacks, the Hills Shire Council made multiple attempts to rehome the Monster given the unusual aggressiveness of the Monster. As magpies are a legally protected species, as are all native animals in New South Wales, the NPWS gave the council a permit to trap and relocate the Monster.

Death

A second permit was issued by the NPWS for the magpie to be shot after attempts at relocation failed. The council announced that the Monster had been "humanely euthanised" on the 28th August 2019. NSW Police were present at the time of death.

Response

The killing of the Monster was a controversial decision among the community.

Emma Hurst of the Animal Justice Party publicly condemned the killing. Some members of the community argued the killing was unnecessary as magpies are only aggressive during six weeks of the year, but a council spokesperson said the Monster was known for attacking people even outside the breeding season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Magpie shot by council after cyclist complains of being swooped". news. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  2. 1 2 Phelan, Liam (2018-09-01). "Terror in the trees: Sydney's angriest magpie revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cockburn, Paige (2019-09-03). "Sydney's 'monster' magpie shot dead after 40 complaints and three years of attacks". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  4. ↑ Ciccarelli, Raffaella (2019-09-03). "Magpie responsible for more than 40 attacks killed by council". 9News. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  5. 1 2 "'Aggressive monster' magpie shot dead after string of swooping attacks". 7NEWS. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  6. 1 2 "Magpie 'monster' shot dead in Sydney following attacks". BBC. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2026-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Taylor, Josh (2019-09-03). "Swooping magpie shot by Sydney council after 'particularly aggressive' attacks". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Magpie shot dead by council after years of 'very aggressive attacks'". The Independent. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2026-05-24.