A notorious magpie known for taking chunks out of peoples ears has returned to its busy thoroughfare nest.
The vicious swooper's return has cyclists calling on authorities to do more before someone is seriously injured or killed.
The magpie, ranked second on Magpie Alert's angry bird list, has returned to its nesting spot on Park Avenue near Adamstown train station.
This bird has a fierce dislike for commuters and cyclists approaching the station.
Most swoops occur near the access paths, with repeated blows to the head and ears showered on passing riders and walkers.
Four incidents were reported on Magpie Alerts in August this year, including two injuries. Both were reported as strikes to the side of the face and ear that drew blood.
Sam Shaw, a cyclist and commuter from Charlestown, said it was only a mater of time before someone was more seriously injured or killed trying to avoid an attack.
"It is really scary," he said.
"It is terrifying. It is going for the ears and the neck.
"I am someone who loves animals and would usually say leave them be and take a different route, but this one is just so aggressive.
"It's a distraction and someone is going to be run over by a car, truck or bus or go over the handlebars. It's a matter of time."
One particularly terrifying attack was recorded by a cyclist during last year's magpie season.
Many more have described the intensity of other attacks and the bird's relentlessness.
"Magpie swooped and hit my right ear. I kept riding, about seven seconds it hit again on right ear and got its beak grab on my ear, another seven seconds of riding head down it hit again, and got another chunk of my right ear in its beak," one rider reported.
"At this time I came to a stop, magpie was up a pole looking at me, I kept eye contact and it swooped again, and I punched it away.
"Tried walking off, and it swooped continually and I had to pick up my carbon-fibre bike and use the front wheel as a shield.
"Finally, when I had walked to Glebe Road it left me alone, and I had time to wash out by bleeding right ear with a water bottle."
Ten injuries were reported on Magpie Alerts last year among 13 incidents.
Mr Shaw said he is an experienced cyclist and was comfortable riding on the road.
He takes a different route to work, but he said for unsuspecting commuters less comfortable on their bike it was very dangerous.
He said he had raised his concerns with City of Newcastle council during last years swooping season but was disappointed by the response.
"They put in a couple of terrible small print signs which are OK for people walking by, but there was no chance a cyclist would see them properly."
He said something more needed to be done.
"As an animal lover it pains me to say something like relocation or euthanasia is the answer, but it doesn't make sense to put the life of a magpie above people's safety."
Newcastle council directed the Herald's questions to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, saying NSW councils do not have power to relocate magpies.
"For most of the year magpies are not aggressive, but for a few short weeks during nesting they can defend their territory vigorously," a NSW Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said.
"Magpies are protected throughout NSW, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs or harm their young."
The spokeperson said problem birds should be reported to council.
"If a member of the public feels a magpie on public land poses a serious risk to public safety, they can report it to your local council.
"People are encouraged to log swooping magpies on the Magpie Alert webpage."
The department confirmed they had not received any reports regarding the Adamstown bird specifically, and said councils should consider erecting signs based on their own assessment of risks.
If this behaviour persists, the relevant land manager can seek advice from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on next steps.
Relocating a protected species requires a biodiversity conservation licence to be issued.
