Residents of Linares Report Bird Attacks: 'They've Gone Crazy'

Panic has gripped the streets of Linares. The streets of this town in Jaén resemble the scene from Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film 'The Birds'. In recent days, several birds have been diving from tree branches onto the heads of pedestrians walking along various areas such as La Cruz Street, Linarejos Promenade, the Fairground, the Salesian School, and the Fuente del Pisar.

The attacks have been recorded by several passersby who have shared them on social media to report the incident. In one of the videos, a young man is seen being attacked by one of these birds, a scenario that has been repeated with several individuals.

"Indeed, yesterday my wife and I were attacked twice on the same route, it's a very strange thing," a citizen remarked in response to one of the videos uploaded to TikTok and Facebook. "It had never happened to me until the other day," added another. Although the situation has caused fear, some are taking it with humour: "The Simpsons predicted it, we're going to die!"

Technicians from the Linares City Council have identified the birds. They are Iberian Magpies (Cyanopica cookii), a species endemic to the Peninsula that becomes particularly protective of their nests during the breeding months, which last from April to June.

"This behaviour does not represent a deliberate attack on people, but rather an instinctive territorial defence response. It is important to note that the magpies do not seek to cause harm, but to deter the presence near their nests. It is a temporary and seasonal behaviour, and outside the breeding season, no similar behaviours or coexistence problems with this species have been recorded," the City Council stated in its communication.

This behaviour is known as "mobbing". It is a defensive conduct where these birds approach in flight, emit sounds, and perform deterrent movements to protect their young from perceived threats, even if they are just pedestrians.

Although bird attacks are common in some areas and times of the year, the aggression demonstrated on this occasion has alarmed the residents of Linares. The council has recommended avoiding areas where magpie nests have been identified, as well as maintaining a safe distance from trees or shrubs where these birds may have nested. Additionally, it advises not to attempt to touch or approach the nests or young, and if a magpie approaches a person in flight, the most important thing is to remain calm and slowly move away from the area.